Portland police have arrested two people outside the Portland State University campus library, as they move to clear the building, which was occupied by protesters. Police said they encountered "barricades" as they entered the building.

Individuals remaining in the building are under arrest for second-degree trespassing, police announced Thursday. The area surrounding the library has been closed off.

Police also warned that anyone resisting arrest could have force used against them and be subject to more criminal charges.

President Joe Biden addressed the nation on Thursday saying that free speech and the rule of law must both be upheld.

"We are not an authoritarian nation where we silence people or squash dissent, the American people are heard. In fact, peaceful protest is the best tradition of how Americans respond to controversial issues," Biden said, speaking from the White House.

But, he condemned the destruction of property, shutting down campuses and forcing the cancelation of classes and graduation, saying it isn't peaceful protest.

"Dissent is essential to democracy, but dissent must never lead to disorder or to denying the rights of others so students can finish the semester and their college education," Biden said.

Biden last commented on college protests on April 22 -- before there was an escalation of suspension and arrests at campuses across the country -- at the time condemning antisemitic actions and those who don't understand the plight of Palestinians in Gaza, a message he reiterated Thursday.

"There is no place for hate speech or violence of any kind whether it's anti-Semitism, islamophobia or discrimination against Arab Americans or Palestinian Americans. It’s simply wrong. There’s no place for racism in America," Biden said.

President Joe Biden, making his first remarks on the surge in protests on college campuses, said the protests have not pushed him to reconsider his policies in the region.

"Mr. President, have the protests forced you to reconsider our policies?" a reporter asked Biden Thursday.

"No," Biden said, before walking away from the podium.

At least 132 people were arrested on Thursday in protests at UCLA according to California Highway Patrol.

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block announced Sunday that the university is taking several immediate steps to increase campus safety following protests that prompted the closure of the school last week.

Block said the newly created Office of Campus Safety will oversee the management of the UCLA Police Department and the Office of Emergency Management. The administrative vice chancellor was previously in charge of the agencies.

Rick Braziel, the former Sacramento chief of police, will head the new Office of Campus Safety, Block said. Braziel will report directly to Block.

Additionally, Block said he has created a formal advisory group of safety experts who will partner with Braziel, including U.C. Davis Police Chief Joh Farrow; Vickie Mays, professor of psychology and health policy and management at UCLA, and Jody Stiger, the U.C. Office of the President systemwide director of community safety.

"In the past week, our campus has been shaken by events that have disturbed this sense of safety and strained trust within our community," Block said in a statement Sunday. "In light of this, both UCLA and the UC Office of the President have committed to a thorough investigation of our security processes. But one thing is already clear: To best protect our community moving forward, urgent changes are needed in how we administer safety operations."

-ABC News' Izzy Alvarez