Surprise Treesit; Five arrested at University of Portland press conference

While waiting I decided to go film a few army soldiers I noticed that were walking west in a parking lot away from the tree-sit. As I got closer I watched them enter a building called the "Public Safety" building which made me wonder, so I moved to get in closer. I got right next to the building and started to film the sign on the wall of the building itself when the director of security (a large african american man) walked out of the building and told me I had to leave immediately. I then asked him why and he just answered with "you don't belong here" throwing his hands wildly in front of my camera while I was taping him in the process of walking away.

Following me off the landing area I asked the director why I couldn't be around what seemed to be a public building. The director just answered back with, "get off the property or you will be arrested for trespassing."

I crossed the street and soon discovered that my battery for my camera was now dead. Now feeling like a fool that I didn't charge my camera I found some shade and started to watch the police go through the tree-sitters belongings from across the street.

A little while goes by and a tree-sitter is arrested. While police were in the process of doing that a tri-met bus was blocked in from it's normal route because of the crime scene tape that was put up. Ironically an ad for logging was on the side of the bus adding fuel to the flame as members of CFA and others took note.

After about twenty minutes two UPPS bike patrol officers by the names of officer Schinnerer and officer Kranyak came over to two young women and said that they were to be arrested for trespassing. When the two women asked how that could possibly be officer Schinnerer told them that, "look, you had been given a warning before not to be on the property and you violated that warning. I'm not going stand here and argue with you."

As it turns out the two women had not trespassed and pleaded with the officers that they had made a mistake. I personally can vouch for one of them who had arrived later into the tree-sit who had no warning and was not aware of any had been given.

Officer Shinnerer then said, "okay I will let you off with a warning" and them took off on his bike with is partner.

About ten minutes later just as the last of the three tree-sitters had came down from the tree officer Shinnerer, along with officer Kranyak, and officer Zajac of the Portland Police with his sergeant came back to inform the two women that they were now to be arrested.

This whole time mind you there are people all over the place walking to and from the campus without any warning or attention by police and/or security. It seems to this Indymedia reporter that they were singled out by the police.

Not giving their names the women were carted off and driven away by police while those supporting them cheered them on in solidarity reminding everyone there that Portland is ready to say no to bush.