The Harvard ‘Democracy Center’ is apparently going to be closed for renovations, so students are occupying the building.
The Harvard Crimson reports:
Democracy Center Protesters Stage ‘Emergency Rally’ with Pro-Palestine Activists Amid OccupationMore than 60 activists protested outside of the Democracy Center Wednesday in an “emergency rally” to prevent what they called an “expected police raid” as an occupation of the building continued into its third day.But while the protest drew a significant police presence, including road closures, no protesters were removed from the premises or arrested. The occupation remained ongoing as of Thursday morning.Demonstrators have been occupying the building at the corner of Mount Auburn and DeWolfe Streets since Monday, the date the Democracy Center was set to close for renovations. The center’s closure, announced in April, has drawn intense backlash from local organizers who use the space for meetings and events and who say their input has been ignored.Sue Heilman — the interim executive director of the Foundation for Civic Leadership, which funds the center — wrote in a statement Wednesday that the protesters were in the building “illegally” and were “not constructive.”“The protesters’ repeated refusal to peacefully and safely leave gives us no choice but to ask for assistance. Their language on social media has also raised concerns,” she wrote.Throughout Wednesday morning, protesters chanted on the sidewalk and steps in front of the center until police officers cordoned off part of Mt. Auburn Street, at which point protesters began moving in a circle on the street in front of the center.The police blockage caused traffic down Mt. Auburn Street and disrupted the flow of traffic in the surrounding area for just under an hour. CPD spokesperson Robert Goulston wrote in a statement that police had been present to manage the protest, not to remove protesters from the premises.
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