Harvard Bans Friday's PSLM Protest

The University has denied the Progressive Student Labor Movement (PSLM) permission to rally during the inauguration of new President Lawrence H. Summers on Friday.

Any breaches of procedure by PSLM will be dealt with as “security violations,” Associate Dean of the College David P. Illingworth ’71 wrote in an e-mail to group members this past Friday.

But PSLM members are continuing to plan for a rally on Friday, the second day of the inaugural festivities. Their “community welcome” will come with Tercentenary Theatre full of people, and the group primed for additional attention.

While the threat of arrest seems unlikely, PSLM members would be willing to risk it, said group member Benjamin L. McKean ’02.

Students campaigning for a living wage occupied the Mass. Hall administrative building for three weeks last spring.

“We’ve certainly risked arrest before,” said McKean, who is also a Crimson editor. “But I just can’t imagine this would be that kind of situation. That would be so spectacularly unnecessary.”

The group is now looking to the city of Cambridge for a permit to rally on city property. McKean noted that permits are not necessary to demonstrate on city sidewalks.

“We’re not relying upon the University in terms of how we’ll move forward,” McKean said. “We’re still open to working with the University to resolve their concerns, but if discussion about this has ended, it’s not because of PSLM.”

According to Illingworth’s e-mail to PSLM members, increased security concerns for the two-day inauguration will not leave any Harvard University Police Department (HUPD) officers free to supervise a demonstration.

“HUPD does not have the person power to cover demonstrations on those days in addition to staffing the inaugural events,” Illingworth wrote.

“I regret having to deny your request, but, given the heightened security now necessary for public events, the College and HUPD are unable to give permission.”

The e-mail adds that if the PSLM members would prefer to schedule the rally before Thursday or after Friday, the University and HUPD would “do our best” to make arrangements.

McKean said the PSLM was willing to work with the University to resolve security concerns, and was surprised by the blanket ban on demonsrations.

“This was never designed to be an aggressive action,” he said. “We’re not there to scream and protest the installation.”

He said PSLM would have been willing to hold the rally—slated to feature speakers and the student band Invisible Downtown—outside the Yard, by the Science Center, Littauer Hall or even at Holyoke Center. Group members also question why the administration would unequivocally ban what PSLM characterizes as a low-key event.

“I don’t know what kind of security concerns they’re talking about, or even how much this has to do with security concerns,” McKean said.

“I fear that not permitting a peaceful, quiet demonstration to take place may be a sign of things to come from this new administration,” PSLM member Stephen N. Smith ’02 wrote in an e-mail.

Illingworth did not return a call for additional comment. HUPD Chief

Frances D. “Bud” Riley was also unavailable for comment.

—Staff writer Daniela J. Lamas can be reached at lamas@fas.harvard.edu.