Portland State University Student Union lead a campus walk-out today at 12 p.m. Activists, both students and nonstudents gathered to support the #DisarmPSU campaign.
According to the PSUSU Facebook page, the #DisarmPSU campaign was created in “response to a three-year battle between the PSU administration and the student activists.”
Individuals initially met at the library, where members of PSUSU, as well as Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights and other organizations spoke to a crowd of around 40 people.
Speaker dismisses reasons @Portland_State said it armed campus security pic.twitter.com/sBypMwoS5s
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
Homeless students living in their cars, they will be targeted says speaker at #disarmpsu
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
Chants of "black lives matter" at #disarmpsu pic.twitter.com/igC2gjCDkx
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
Activists then marched to the Campus Public Safety Office, crowding the streets as more people participated.
Student in headscarf says that professors don't know how to teach students of color #disarmpsu pic.twitter.com/rPjpjR78XC
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
Student speaker says that @Portland_State prayer and meditation space in Smith basement keeps Muslims in the basement #disarmpsu
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
Protesters moved on to the Urban Plaza, where more student voices were heard.
Speaker critiques campus security hiring more minority officers; "Diversity is not equality" #disarmpsu pic.twitter.com/lGXAT9greK
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
More chants of #disarmpsu pic.twitter.com/7BCAzxc6ip
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
The next location was the Market Center Building, where students not only spoke out but demonstrated a “die-in” and moment of silence for five minutes.
#disarmpsu protestors block traffic with "die in" protest pic.twitter.com/iOVm0CmnQH
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
A moment of silence. #disarmpsu pic.twitter.com/tTVzQx5xV6
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
Participants then marched back to the Park Blocks. Individuals spoke again to a smaller crowd. The march ended around 3 p.m.
Protesters take the streets. #DisarmPSU pic.twitter.com/dh6ACz5ozE
— The Vanguard (@psuvanguard) May 10, 2016
Check back here or pick May 17 print issue for extended coverage.