The weeklong occupation of the Democracy Center in Cambridge ended quietly earlier this week when the approximately 30 protesters who had taken up residence vacated the premises, signaling a reluctant acceptance that the planned indefinite closure for renovations by the Foundation for Civic Leadership (FCL) will proceed, as reported by The Crimson.
Activists began their occupation on July 1, coordinating teach-ins musical performances, a reading group, and an emergency rally with pro-Palestine activists which drew a strong police response and caused road closures, according to the same publication. The building, located on Mt. Auburn Street, had been adorned with posters, banners, and cardboard-covered windows, all symbols of the resistance to its shuttering for an unspecified length of time, all of the decorations had disappeared by Tuesday, indicating the end of the occupation.
In a statement obtained by The Crimson, FCL interim Executive Director Sue Heilman expressed relief at the peaceful resolution of the protest, "The building is now empty and secure," and assured that they are working on assessing the building's condition, "We are working to assess its condition and plan the much-needed safety, accessibility and functionality improvements.” The closure of the center had sparked major concerns among local progressive organizations that relied on the space for meetings, with some fearing that the renovations could threaten their existence.
The conflict surrounding the Democracy Center also pulled in the contentious issue of pro-Palestine activism, with rallies that have frequently included Palestinian flags keffiyehs, and chants of “free Palestine,” reflecting a broader intersection of social justice issues, at one such event organizers hung a banner reading “Resist Displacement from Gaza to Cambridge” aligning local conflicts with international ones. FCL President Ian T. Simmons '98 has ensured, in open meetings discussed by The Crimson, that local organizations will be welcomed back post-renovations.
There has been speculation among protesters, according to their Instagram posts and rallies, that the center's closure might be "implicitly" linked to the use of the space by MEOR, a Jewish education and mentorship organization that some activists have labeled as "Zionist events." However, Heilman strongly refuted this speculation, stating, “the only reason for the closure is for needed renovations to the building.” Amidst all the activities, Elizabeth Rucker, the center’s former manager resigned in protest of the police's involvement, which she believed was originally intended to remove people from the building, as The Crimson reported.
Kelly Regan, a spokesperson for the Save the Democracy Center Movement, clarified the separation of the occupiers from their movement, the 'autonomous group of occupiers are separate' from their movement, Regan told The Crimson.
