The decision by the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) to occupy Byerly Hall on Friday marked a significant escalation in the group's campaign for a living wage.
In its 18 months of activism, PSLM members had never defied direct orders of the Harvard University Police Department (HUPD), communicating openly and often with officers and HUPD Chief Francis D. "Bud" Riley.
At all past protests, even unannounced "teach-ins" in Mass. Hall and the Holyoke Center, PSLM ended its demonstrations as soon as HUPD officers asked members to leave.
But on Friday, the group refused.
"It's an escalation that is unfortunate," Riley said. "It's the first time they refused to leave when we requested them to."
PSLM members said they undertook Friday's action knowing they faced the risk of arrest.
"We didn't expect to be arrested, but we were prepared to be," said Benjamin L. McKean '02, a member of PSLM.
But he said the group did not anticipate forceful action by HUPD because of the presence of prospective first-year students.
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