The students were arrested March 29 while participating in a peaceful occupation of the lobby of their student union building (the Marvin Center), demanding that the university put workers' rights in writing in the form of a labor code of conduct, and affiliate with the independent monitoring agency - the Worker Rights Consortium - to help ensure that GW does not employ sweatshop labor. As the second largest employer in D.C., if GW is allowed to trample on workers' rights, the rights of workers throughout our nation's capitol are jeopardized.

Following the arrests, students held rallies in support of the arrested students and hundreds of SLAPsters from around the country joined DC area activists to send faxes to GW's President urging him to drop the charges.  On April 21, there were hugs and high-fives all around when George Washington University (GW) effectively dropped charges against eleven students. When GW failed to appear at their April 21 arraignment in DC Court, the trespassing charges were effectively dropped against the 11 students who occupied GW's student center to demand an end to sweatshop labor and rights for GW workers. Although the students were now free to go, they vowed to renew their campaign at GW when classes start up again in September, and thanked all those who have supported their struggle.