KATU 2 News | By Tanvi Varma | May 31, 2024
Two Portland State University students claim that Portland State University Campus Public Safety officers used unlawful force against them during a pro-Palestine protest on May 23.
They’re now working with civil rights attorney Michael Fuller.
“They were coming home from class on Thursday. They saw a peaceful assembly of other students. … At a certain point the police decided to use physical force, and each of my clients were injured, either by being pushed down or being pushed into, one case pushed into a bike. They both had bruising and scrapes consistent with being pushed down,” said Fuller.
A statement from Portland Police Chief Bob Day released the day after tells a different story.
He said PPB officers were on campus to assist the Campus Public Safety Office with protesters who were chaining themselves to doors, and as they made arrests, “the crowd became extraordinarily hostile and surrounded the officers. As PSU officers tried to transport arrested persons away. The crowd blocked the garage exit. One officer was spit in the face, and at least 2 others were punched.”
Day went on to add, “Equally concerning, officers notified the group that a medical emergency was underway. But they refused to move, and officers had to forcibly push their way out to ensure that medical care could be brought in.”
According to PSU, the person who needed medical attention was Chief Willie Halliburton. He was taken to the hospital, though we don’t know for what. About a week ago, we heard that he was recovering.
Attorney Michael Fuller says that’s not how the events unfolded.
“It was actually Chief Halliburton who was engaging in pushing and using physical force against protesters long before any medical emergency,” said Fuller.
KATU asked Fuller, “We don’t know the nature of what happened to Chief Halliburton just yet. So how do we know that he wasn’t at least suffering some sort of medical issue throughout that time period?”
“He could have been, but he didn’t show any signs of it the way he was stepping into the crowd and pushing people and regulating,” said Fuller.
They’re not pulling the trigger on the lawsuit just yet.
“We want to give the city a chance to do the right thing for the student who had the medical bills. We’re asking for $4,500 in compensation, and for the student who had injuries but didn’t need to see a doctor, we’re asking for $2,500,” said Fuller.
https://katu.com/news/local/two-psu-students-threaten-lawsuit-over-alleged-unlawful-force-by-cpso
