DiMaggio expressed fundamental concerns with the soon-to-be-vacationing lawmakers.

“They’re only accountable to the money that elected them,” he said.

And in the face of such stiff opposition, many were unsure actions like Monday’s protest could have any real effect on the budget.

“We all know how powerless we are,” said Mervyn W. Han ’03, who also participated in the rally. “All we can do is just yell outside, but we don’t have any voice in the decision-making process. We can scream, but it’s not heard by those in a position of authority.”

But Tanaka said that by raising public awareness with the rally, a major goal had been accomplished.

“It’s actions like this—state-wide action—that let our legislators know that this is a serious issue and that something needs to be done,” he said. “I’m not that optimistic about the timing, but I think that with continued persistence we’ll be able to do something.”

Tanaka also stressed that the door was never closed on changes to a passed state budget, as long as the House remained in session.

“They can amend whenever they want,” he said.

And all said that even when the odds looked steep, such protests did not lose their importance.

“It would be terrible if all this happened and nobody said anything,” said Emily P. Schmitt ’04, who was active in organizing the Harvard contingent at the protests but did not herself attend.

Protesters attributed the sizable turnout of Harvard students—including many members of the Phillips Brooks House Association and the Progressive Student Labor Movement—to the direct contact members of such organizations have with the social programs cut by the new budget.

“I think Harvard students in particular are interested in this issue because of our activity in the community and because we see the effect that this is having on the people we interact with every day and on our fellow students around the state,” DiMaggio said.

And Harvard students should be even more concerned about the budget cuts, Schmitt said.

“As college students we often seem removed from politics here,” said Schmitt. “A lot of us don’t vote and don’t plan to be here for more than four years, but it’s important to get invested in the community.”

Tanaka said he didn’t think it mattered if the rest of society thought now was the right time for activism.

“As long as there is a need for social change, it doesn’t matter how cool or fashionable it is,” he said. “We’re doing it our own way.”

—Staff writer Simon W. Vozick-Levinson can be reached at vozick@fas.harvard.edu.