Some cops were surrounded. That is why some were on one side of the protesters, and some on the other. Thats how a circle works.
And there were a hell of a lot more of the occutards than cops. No, the cops didnt have them surrounded. The cops were and rather peacefully fought their way out.
“UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza said officers used force out of concern for their own safety after they were surrounded by students...”
I understand how a circle works. But I don’t considered it “surround” and a “safety” issue when one can step over some folks sitting on the ground like the cop with the pepper spray did.
And again - it looked to me like the active protestors that needed (and should be) arrested were those seated in a LINE blocking the path. The crowd gathered around were watchers, and only became a mob after the pepper spray and arrests. Of course they may have become a mob just based on the arrests as well.
It seemed to me that the cops were in MORE danger later on in the video as the mob pushed them back. And of course a moral victory for the mob. “Yeah - we pushed the cops back!”