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.

University of California President Michael V. Drake addressed the ongoing protests at UCLA that "turned violent" overnight, announcing in a statement on Wednesday an "independent external review" has been ordered.

The university summoned mutual aid from LAPD officers to "restore control" to the protest, according to Drake, who noted, there were 15 injuries, including one hospitalization, that stemmed from the protest.

"My office has requested a detailed accounting from the campus about what transpired in the early morning hours today," Drake said.

"But some confusion remains, therefore we are also ordering an independent external review of both UCLA’s planning and actions, and the effectiveness of the mutual aid response," Drake said.

UCLA's own chancellor, Gene D. Block, also promised an investigation.

"We are still gathering information about the attack on the encampment last night, and I can assure you that we will conduct a thorough investigation that may lead to arrests, expulsions and dismissals," Block told the campus community in a note Wednesday afternoon.

Block, in his note, said it was "a group of instigators" who came to Royce Quad to "forcefully attack the encampment that has been established there to advocate for Palestinian rights."

He called the overnight violence "utterly unacceptable."

"However one feels about the encampment, this attack on our students, faculty and community members was utterly unacceptable. It has shaken our campus to its core and — adding to other abhorrent incidents that we have witnessed and that have circulated on social media over the past several days — further damaged our community’s sense of security," his letter read.