This blog is a must read before anyone writes that the students “deserved” it.. My right wing friends, you know who your are… So you don’t look too stupid later, read this before trying to write something witty…..
1. The protest at which UC Davis police officers used pepper spray and batons against unresisting demonstrators was an entirely nonviolent one.
2. The unauthorized tent encampment was dismantled before the pepper spraying began.
3. Students did not restrict the movement of police at any time during the demonstration.
4. Lt. Pike was not in fear for his safety when he sprayed the students. Chief Spicuzza told reporters on Thursday that her officers had been concerned for their safety when they began spraying. But again, multiple videos show this claim to be groundless.
The most widely distributed video of the incident (viewed, as I write this, by nearly 700,000 people on YouTube) begins just moments before Lt. Pike begain spraying, but another video, which starts a few minutes earlier, shows Pike chatting amiably with one activist, even patting him casually on the back.
(The pat on the back occurs just two minutes and nineteen seconds before Pike pepper sprayed the student he had just been chatting with and all of his friends.)
5. University of California Police are not authorized to use pepper spray except in circumstances in which it is necessary to prevent physical injury to themselves or others.
6. UC police are not authorized to use physical force except to control violent offenders or keep suspects from escaping.
7. The UC Davis Police made no effort to remove the student demonstrators from the walkway peacefully before using pepper spray against them.
8. Use of pepper spray and other physical force continued after the students’ minimal obstruction of the area around the police ended.
9. Even after police began using unprovoked and unlawful violence against the students, they remained peaceful.
10. The students’ commitment to nonviolence extended to their use of language.
Now, lets compare their composure with that of the Tea Party….
Teabagger Violence Mars Tax Day Rally With Sen. Marco Rubio
Tea Party Violence: Teabagger Tries To Kill Man With Obama Bumper Sticker
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