As the strike escalated, Heyn called for heavy police presence in order to “maintain order,” making the campus a militarized war zone. The relevance of such policing sparked debates on tactics of the strike.

It is important to note that the strike emphasized non-violent action and most violence was initiated by officers. Police forces were called in, not to prevent riots from occurring, but to terrorize students of color and the strike, turning the University as a physical battleground for self determination.