In solidarity with the Occupy Portland and larger Occupy movements around the nation, a group of PSU students and supporters rallied today. The events started at 12pm with a student walk-out and meeting in the Park Blocks, followed by a march through SW Portland, and ended with the first Occupy PSU general assembly in Urban plaza. Here are some staff photos following the action chronologically.
PSU President Wim Wiewel can be seen watching from his office window as the demonstration unfolds in the Park Blocks
English Professor Marcia Klotz speaks at the rally in the Park Blocks
A news cameraman films the rally.
ASPSU President Adam Rahmlow speaks.
Tasha Triplett speaks.
Sociology professor Randy Blazak speaks.
Students carry a banner at the onset of the march.
Demonstrators clash with police officers near the PSU campus.
Protesters can be seen through the spokes of a bicycle-mounted officer’s wheel.
Officers keep marchers on the sidewalk.
A line of police motorcycles segments the march.
ASPSU Vice President Pierce Whitehead marches.
Demonstrators re-gather at Urban Plaza for the General Assembly.
]Wyell, an international studies major and Occupy PSU Facilitator addresses the crowd.
Security officers are seen watching the General Assembly from an adjacent window.
A man with a dissenting opinion is shown holding a sign that reads “I’m paying for your pointless protest.”
Recent PSU Graduate Bao Duong burns his diploma.
A public safety officer watches the demonstration.
A student talks with an officer during the GA.
Bao Duong burns his diploma.
Watching the campus police at UC Davis pepper-spray defenseless students students sitting on the ground with their arms linked together became the iconic moment of the Occupy Movement. There was a time not so long ago when campus security personnel were at colleges to patrol hallways, cite improperly parked cars, and perhaps escort women to their cars from night classes when needed. They were dressed generally in blazers and ties or rent-a-cop type uniforms. Now it seems they come wearing jack-boots, body armor, and visored helmets in preparation for attacks on students protesting huge hikes in tuitions.
George Lucas said in past interviews that he got his inspiration for his first “Star Wars” movie from the anti-Vietnam war protesters from the 1960’s. The cops at UC Davis filmed brutalizing students look for all the world like Death Star soldiers from Lucas’ classic film. All that’s missing from the scene of cops pepper-spraying and beating students is the film music of John Williams!
Amazing shots! It is too bad we didn’t get a picture of the police confrontation infront of our city hall. Always amazing to see students embracing their right as citizens to stand up for the things in society they value. We need to begin believing in ourselves and the power of change we wield in our community. The day we believe we do not have power is the day we lose it. Our university, and the community we enjoy are only the product of the inovations by our predecessors.
If we do not like it. Than we can change it. We must first believe we can.
Also, my name is spelled Pearce. Common mistake, but check out our student government website aspsu.pdx.edu for up to date information. You can find current events, contact your student government representative/advocate and find useful information like what do I do as your Vice-President and how one spells my name.
well, my name’s not too important, as long as I know it and the courthouse holding my birth certificate knows it. I respond to really anything, even a good throw of a heavy object to the temple. Come and see for yourself at our office in Smith 117! If you are trying to navigate the bureaucratic university system, cant find help with a problem or simply want to bounce ideas of how to improve PSU with fellow students, come on in! We are down the hall to the right of the information desk.