UOPD and EPD dressed in riot gear in front of Johnson Hall after some striking UO Student Workers occupied the building on May 5, 2025. (Mathias Lehman-Winters/Emerald)

Updated 11:00 p.m.

After police left the scene, members of UOSW dispersed for the night. 

One student worker who occupied the building described the experience as being “mean-mugged by a bunch of cops.”

Updated 10:40 p.m. 

After a presence of nearly two dozen police officers around Johnson Hall, UOPD and EPD police cars have vacated the scene. Roughly 250 striking workers and picketers are rallying behind Johnson Hall, hugging and cheering. 

“We did our f***ing job,” a speaker at the rally said. “You are part of f***ing history right now.”

Updated 10:30 p.m.

At 10:26, roughly 10 UOPD officers arrived at the south entrance of Johnson Hall dressed in riot gear and wielding batons.

Updated 10:00 p.m.

Roughly 60 striking student workers began occupying Johnson Hall around 8:00 p.m.,  according to Emerald reporters on the scene and organizers for UOSW. 

Student workers have been inside the building most of the day since a scheduled sit-in began, according to Victoria Robison, a media liaison for UOSW. 

The sit-in was expected to end before the building closed at 5:30 p.m., according to Robison, but some students remained in the building upon closure.

According to Robison, the protesters are not expected to leave “until their demands are met.”

“I think we’re all really, really outraged and frustrated that it’s taken them this long, but you know if this is what it takes, we’ll be here until we make good progress,” Robison said.

Several UO Police Department officers were also inside the building. One Campus Safety car is located outside the south side of Johnson Hall. 

“The people inside the building are aware that what they’re doing is illegal and that’s a risk that they took on by doing this autonomous action,” Robison said.

As of 8:00 p.m., there were around 100 picketers outside of Johnson Hall, chanting in unison. Around a couple of dozen picketers were posted at each exit of Johnson Hall. 

The Emerald has not received immediate comment from UO or UOPD. 

In addition to the approximately 60 striking workers occupying Johnson Hall with police officers present inside, roughly 100 striking workers are occupying the space in front of and surrounding Johnson Hall. 

Around 9:30 p.m., striking workers projected a message on Johnson Hall that said “WAGES UP TUITION DOWN.” 

A few minutes later, several striking workers made speeches and delivered testimonies of their mistreatment and grievances while employed at UO.

“Not only are we out here fighting for ourselves and our coworkers and the people inside of (Johnson Hall) but the reason why everyone is out here on Cinco de Mayo, out here risking arrest is because we care about other people,” one speaker said. 

Striking workers sang union songs including “Solidarity forever.”