Well, a definite propaganda coup. They'll try to turn this into the 21st Century version of "Kent State"
Posted on 11/21/2011 3:27:40 AM PST by markomalley
Images of a senior policeman theatrically pepper-spraying peaceful student protesters have caused anger across the US, highlighting the controversial tactics used against "occupy" demonstrations.
Lieutenant John Pike was filmed holding his spray can aloft before dousing the faces of a dozen demonstrators blocking a path at the University of California in Davis. Two of the students, who were protesting against the removal of their protest camp, were taken to hospital for treatment.
Footage of the incident, which took place amid crowds chanting "the whole world is watching", quickly circulated online. It was broadcast on television news channels throughout the weekend, prompting calls for Lt Pike to be fired.
Students and lecturers also called for the resignation of Linda Katehi, the university chancellor. "This is what happens when UC chancellors order police onto our campuses to disperse peaceful protesters through the use of force: students get hurt," Nathan Brown, an assistant professor, said in an open letter.
After initially refusing to condemn the tactics, Dr Katehi said the footage was "chilling to us all" and established a task force to investigate the incident. Friday "was not a day that would make anyone on our campus proud," she said.
One of the students sprayed by Lt Pike said the tactic was unnecessary. "I was shocked," Sophia Kamran told CNN. "When students are sitting on the ground and in no way of moving to be violent, being totally peaceful, I don't understand the use of pepper spray against them."
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Well, a definite propaganda coup. They'll try to turn this into the 21st Century version of "Kent State"
Good thing a union cop gave them the scene they’ve wanted for months. ;-)
Is that Paul Blart?
All the oriental visitors on the side are probably taking pictures and saying “Wow pretty humane way of dealing with protesters. In my county they get run over them with a tank”
Photo Op Central.
Looked like a bear to me.
I hate to suggest this....but it’s almost a scripted event. When you look at the shot, and everyone on the ground....it looks pretty scripted. What exactly were the cops even protecting? Were there even buildings around or some important statue?
It is clear from the photo that these "students" with their LL Bean $150 shoes and $200 Benetton jackets decided to plop themselves right in front of a throng of parasite "reporters" who might as well draw their paychecks from the DNC. The police had previously given them orders to comply, which they obviously ignored.
Ever watch the TV show C.O.P.S?
Ever had a policeman pull you over, and you decided to be cute and not comply with directives?
These protesters wanted to be sprayed.
I’ve got no problem with pepper-spraying these marxists.
As long as it didn’t involve salt.
This is a totally appropriate use of measured force to disperse an illegal assembly. The seated students were ordered to desist, resisted attempts to be moved, were warned that pepper spray would be used, and opted to get sprayed. While temporarily painful, the spray does not cause lasting injury. Police themselves are sprayed during training exercises. All the hyperventilating about “abuse” and “brutality” is pure nonsense.
I am certainly not outraged are you?
This should have been done on day 1.
Here we go again blaming the authorities for doing their job to get DISOBEDIENT "peaceful" student protesters to stop blocking the path. The moronic, stupid, and stubborn behavior by the disobedient students resulted in their being warned that they would be pepper sprayed if they did not move out of the way. They ignored the warning and, as a result, they volunteered to be pepper sprayed. They did not like it after all.
So "everyone" is screaming police brutality and want to punish those sworn to protect the peace for doing their job. That is the world we live in today.
I think the policeman looks like a goon! A lazy one at that!
Unnecessary but not particularly shocking. There was little reaction from the OWS morons. Hardly a Kent State moment.
The following video has a different angle and shows things better. It is part 2 of 3 - all 3 are interesting but with lots of boring things too.
I was at first of the opinion that the pepper spray should not have been used seeing the photos and limited video. However, these longer videos show them being “surrounded” (but didn’t really restrict their movements). And right before they get sprayed, the video below shows something that may have given the cops an idea that things were going to escalate by the protestors.
A guy in black with a white mask walks over and hands a black bag to a guy seated. Another guy walks over and hands a large red back to either the same guy or the guy seated next to him. A cop then tries to pull one of those guys (or at least in that same area) by the legs to pull him out but no luck. (The cop didn’t try that hard).
The spraying starts with the guys that got the bags. Those bags may have been enough of a presumed threat I suppose. Of course it may have also just been masks or something. But - it may have been something else.
I hope that the cops can/will pull look at this video and use it to help explain their actions. Although I suppose no matter what their explanation some won’t listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjXk9wYWIE8&feature=related
Free delousing?
“...were warned that pepper spray would be used, and opted to get sprayed.”
On the video on the post above and his other sets it is not clear that they were warned about the pepper spray. They were given NUMEROUS warnings that they would arrested. One time the cop said “This is your third and final warning...” - but I think he still said it a couple of more times as they moved a bit further towards the crowd!
I did not hear anything about pepper spray. The cop starts shaking it up, but the backs of the protestors are turned away so they can’t see it. I’m sure they knew something was coming though - as I said, the guys walking and handing them the bags probably warned them.
Interestingly, a few of the guys first sit down in the sidewalk facing the cops they are surrounding (to keep them from hauling away a few kids they have already arrested). But some third guy (seen in the videos moving around from place to place) has them stand up and turn around and sit facing AWAY from the cops. Probably is experienced in the tactics - and shows a less confrontational line - and also they are protected from spary coming from the group of cops. (The cop that sprayed them came from behind and calmly stepped over the row of them seated, showed them the canisters for a second or two and then sprayed them).
I hope they were able to arrest some of these guys that looked like the leaders.
It can't be washed off of anything. Whatever it gets on has to be burned. They would have to shave every hair off their body and would still stink for a month. After about a month enough outer skin cells would have replaced themselves to get rid of most of the stench.
To compare the stench of that stuff, It makes skunk smell equal to the finest French perfume.
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