further scenes from UC Davis

[threeplusfire]

Police used batons to try to push the students apart. Those they could separate, they arrested, kneeling on their bodies and pushing their heads into the ground. Those they could not separate, they pepper-sprayed directly in the face, holding these students as they did so. When students covered their eyes with their clothing, police forced open their mouths and pepper-sprayed down their throats. Several of these students were hospitalized. Others are seriously injured. One of them, forty-five minutes after being pepper-sprayed down his throat, was still coughing up blood.

From an open letter to Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi, written by Assistant Professor Nathan Brown

This letter is something you read.

I don't care whether you agree with #OWS or not. This is not how we should treat peaceful protestors of any kind. Have you ever seen riot police spraying pepper spray into the face of Westboro Baptist when they are protesting military funerals? Tea Party protestors carrying rifles and handguns at their rallies were demonstrably more threatening in their language and actions than anything these students were doing. These kids were engaged in non violent, peaceful protest. It's a bunch of college kids sitting on the ground with their arms linked. It doesn't matter whether we agree with what they are saying or doing. What matters is that the culture of hysteria and fear has lead us to a point where people think calling riot police to pepper spray people right in the face is an acceptable response.

This is wrong. This is wrong. This is wrong.

Boing Boing has posted information about the madness, including an easy way to contact the chancellor.

Comments

[rockstarbob.livejournal.com]

Can I link this post of yours on FB? Or may I quote you anonymously?

I am so distressed by this whole thing.

[tsarina.livejournal.com]

Feel free to post away.

I was so angry I was shaking when I watched these videos, but I was awed by the crowd chanting "Shame on you" and pushing the police back."

[silvanis.livejournal.com]

Here's what gets me. Chancellor Katehi would have been around 11 years old during the height of the Vietnam war protests. Has she forgotten what that was like?

[splix.livejournal.com]

This is my brother's alma mater. Sickening. Thanks for the contact info.