On April 25, 2024, Portland State University (PSU) students started organizing peaceful protests on the lawn in the heart of the campus, also known as the Park Blocks. They assembled in an encampment, which lasted for three days, and blocked the entrance to Millar Library. PSU students are protesting with the goal of holding their institution accountable for where their tuition and revenue money flows. PSU’s students’ demands include divesting from company contracts involving Israeli funding — specifically The Boeing Company — stopping all sales of Israeli-made products, and calling for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza.
Similar student protests have taken place over the last few months as secondary education students across America have shown their support for Palestine in the ongoing Israel-Hamas war through a variety of protests. These have taken form as sit-ins, blockades, walk-outs, and encampments done in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Israel was established in 1948, following the reorganization of Middle Eastern territories after WWII. As the new Israel state took occupation of historically Palestinian inhabited territory, since its formation Israel and the state of Palestine have fought over the existing area.
The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are the two established territories designated for the Palestinians to live. Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, Palestinians in Gaza have been fleeing the violence of the war, heading south towards Rafah — the last city before the Gaza-Egypt border. The Gazan communities are facing an Israeli total blockade as well as limited abilities to immigrate to Egypt, meaning they have nowhere to go. According to reports by Al Jazeera, it is estimated that tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers on both sides have died and that there have been billions of dollars in infrastructure damage.
Students are advocating for PSU to move away from their contracts with Boeing due to the company’s history of being in partnership with the state of Israel. The company “entered a reciprocal procurement partnership in October 2018,” according to The Boeing Company website, alongside funding and building the Israeli defense missiles. The partnership with Boeing provides funds for scholarships and internship opportunities.
On April 29, 2024, PSU students’ protests escalated when a group made its way into Millar, leading to the campus closing and all in-person classes being canceled for several days. When protesters occupied the library, they kept the books untouched, but the walls and furniture received a different treatment. Graffiti of their demands of PSU, hopeful messages of promises to the civilians of Gaza, and much more were spray painted on the walls inside Millar. The furniture were left overturned into make-shift shelters and barricades. Students have spray painted “No more dead kids” and “From the River to the Sea” on the windows of Millar Library, demonstrating the anger students are feeling due to the violence in Palestine.
“The safety and security of the PSU community is our top priority. We support our students exercising their right to free speech, including protest,” said Christina Williams of PSU communications. Similar points were made by PSU President Ann Cudd’s statement addressing the protests, which was put out prior to the defacing and occupation of Millar.
Among the students, and other young people protesting in social outcry for Palestine, is Shaelee Singer, an indigenous PSU student. Singer expresses how important young voices are, stating, “We are … the future generation — we are the ones who are left to beg and make changes happen for the best for our society and the people in it.”
The indigenous population at PSU have talked about similarities between Palestinians being removed from their homeland and American colonization. “The only thing colonizers cannot take from us is our voices,” says Singer. “Indigenous people exist globally. It is important that we protect one another, and to bring as much education and awareness to what is happening right now.”
Cudd responded very quickly to the student advocacy, putting out a statement saying, “PSU will pause seeking or accepting any further gifts or grants from The Boeing Company until we have had a chance to engage in this debate and come to conclusions about a reasonable course of action.”
On April 30, 2024, President Cudd and the PSU Administration asked the protesters to vacate the area, claiming they will involve the Portland Police Bureau if students do not comply. Protesters began fleeing out of the front entrance of Millar in the early morning of May 2, 2024. Portland Police Bureau cleared the building, arresting a total of 12 people, four of whom were PSU students.
In response to the various student protests, Cudd stated that she values student voices, but draws the line at violence and interruption of education. “PSU has always been and will remain a place where free speech and academic freedom are treasured,” she mentioned in her statement. Student advocates have voiced that they have no intention of stopping their protests until there is a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war.
