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Five William and Mary Students Arrested Speaking Out Against Poverty

April 21, 2011 7:47 pm by: Category: Economic Justice A+ / A-

At 12:50AM, five students were arrested in the middle of the night on charges of trespassing after staging a 16-hour sit-in at the College of William and Mary.  Over 10 students at the College began sitting-in on Wednesday, April 20th, at 9AM in President Reveley's office, refusing to leave until the administration implement a living wage.  Workers have been speaking out against poverty-level wages for over 10 years, and students have tried numerous legal means to make their voices heard.  Despite letter-writing, rallies, a community forum, over 15 meetings, and overwhelming support for living wages in the community, the administration has taken no steps to increase wages of the lowest-paid workers.  Because the administration has failed to take any action toward implementing living wages, students staged a sit-in to show President Reveley that this is an issue he can no longer ignore.

 
In addition to arrest, students received up to 5 Code of Conduct violations including "disruption of the normal living and working conditions of the College," opening windows, and disobeying administrators' orders.  Students' freedom of speech was also violated when administration refused press interviews with students inside the office.  During the height of the sit-in, over 50 students, faculty, and workers were occupying The Brafferton.
 
Students sitting-in maintain that while a one-day peaceful protest against poverty may be seen as disruptive, worker lives are disrupted every day as they and their families struggle to survive on poverty-level wages.  Instead taking meaningful steps toward increasing worker wages, administration arrested William and Mary students for participating in non-violent, civil disobedience.
 
 
Five William and Mary Students Arrested Speaking Out Against Poverty Reviewed by on . At 12:50AM, five students were arrested in the middle of the night on charges of trespassing after staging a 16-hour sit-in at the College of William and Mary. At 12:50AM, five students were arrested in the middle of the night on charges of trespassing after staging a 16-hour sit-in at the College of William and Mary. Rating:
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