According to the police, a man deliberately drove his car into a crowd of pro-Palestinian protesters at Portland State University in Oregon. Before fleeing the scene, he sprayed a chemical agent similar to pepper spray.
During a sweep of the university’s library, the police clashed with protesters and arrested at least 30 individuals. The library had been occupied for several days prior to the incident.
Protesters reached a boiling point on Thursday as they defiantly refused to vacate the campus area and seized control of the campus building for the second time. The Portland Police Bureau (PPB) officers documented their operations on the social platform X throughout the day.
The driver of a car who stopped near the crowd and sprayed some sort of pepper spray earlier this afternoon was located by university police, as reported by a PPB post.
According to the Portland Police Bureau (PPB), the adult male was taken to a nearby hospital under a police mental health hold.
I have contacted Portland State University and the PPB to gather additional information about the driver of the car.
According to a report by KATU2, it seems that the car was vandalized, with its windows broken and items scattered nearby.
Officers initiated their operation to clear the campus library at approximately 6 a.m. on Thursday. According to the PPB, the officers proceeded with a deliberate and systematic approach to ensure the building was thoroughly cleared. Throughout the operation, they encountered barricades at various locations, primarily consisting of stacked furniture. Additionally, the floors were intentionally made slippery, possibly to hinder the officers’ progress by causing them to slip and fall.
The police also took to social media to share images of the vandalized interior of the building, showcasing the graffiti and a collection of makeshift weapons, including ball bearings, paint balloons, spray bottles of ink, and DIY armor. However, it is important to note that none of these items were actually used against the police.
On Thursday, the police provided confirmation that a group of trespassers had taken down a fence surrounding the library and managed to enter the building. Subsequently, additional arrests were made, involving individuals who had refused to vacate the outdoor area adjacent to the library.
Students and community members across college campuses nationwide are joining the PSU protests, advocating for their institutions to divest from Israeli companies or companies that provide weapons to Israel in its conflict with Hamas.
More than 2,000 people have been arrested across the country since the college encampments started. At Columbia University, riot police in full gear were deployed to the campus in response to protesters taking over one of the campus buildings.
