Amid nationwide calls for a ceasefire in Gaza, protestors took to Intel’s Hillsboro headquarters.
The semiconductor manufacturer’s Ronler Acres Campus was the site of a demonstration from 8 to 10 a.m. on Monday, April 15, as community members voiced opposition to the company’s business dealings with Israel. In December, Intel announced plans to build a $25 billion manufacturing plant in Southern Israel — marking the largest investment the country has ever seen.
Organized by the Portland Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), protestors surrounded the loop at Northeast Butler Street and Northeast 65th Avenue, holding signs that read “divest from genocide” and “let Gaza live.”
“We organized the rally at the Intel campus to call for a ceasefire in Gaza, but more specifically to call for Intel to disinvest from Israel,” Roger Peet, a member of DSA, said. “What we are trying to call attention to is the money that Intel puts into Israel’s economy — that massive economic engine is part of what makes it possible for the ongoing slaughter and what has been called a ‘genocide’ by the International Court of Justice.”
Officers from the Hillsboro Police Department were present during the demonstration, intervening when a truck attempted to drive through an entrance blocked off by protestors.
“A vehicle did drive up to a line of demonstrators, who were blocking the entrance to the campus. The vehicle inched forward, and the demonstrators pushed against it,” Lieutenant Doug Ehrich said. “We observed this and immediately intervened. The driver was told to use another entrance to access the campus, which he did.”
There was also a dispute between opposing demonstrators, but both parties had separated and refused to talk to authorities when police arrived.
After the protest, three people were arrested in relation to the demonstration at an-off site location.
“We did make three arrests for individuals who intentionally caused damage to private property,” Ehrich said. “These arrests were made without incident.”
The demonstration coincided with other initiatives to show solidarity with Palestine as the international conflict persists, including an Interstate 5 blockage in Eugene that ended with 52 protestors arrested . Pro-Palestinian protestors also demonstrated at Intel’s Arizona site .
“There was a national call yesterday to try to create an economic blockade to bring attention to the ongoing genocide that is happening in Gaza; our tactic at the Intel campus was to try to block a couple of the entrances to prevent employees and other traffic from entering,” Peet said.
Intel employees were told to expect increased traffic that morning caused by the demonstration via an email sent the night before.
In a statement to Pamplin Media Group, an Intel spokesperson noted the company's longstanding history in Israel , dating back to 1974 when the company opened its first design and development center outside the U.S.
“The expansion plan for the Kiryat Gat site began in 2019 and is an important part of Intel’s efforts to foster a more resilient global supply chain, alongside the company’s ongoing and planned manufacturing investments in Europe and the U.S.,” Intel said in a statement.
Activists aim to continue the pressure on the technology company.
“We think that focusing the attention of this movement on Intel is one of the most significant, material ways that we can really engage with this issue as residents of the Portland metro area,” Peet said.
A similar demonstration at the Ronler Acres campus was also held in January following Intel’s announced expansion.
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