This is horrifying and brilliant all at once.
Today at Occupy Davis, a police officer approached a group of students sitting in a line peacefully on the ground, walked up and down the line and pepper-sprayed them directly in the face — as one would spray pesticide on weeds. What you’ll see in this video is such a callous display of police brutality, I don’t know how this police officer is going to go home and look at himself in the mirror.
As the students cry “Shame on you!” the police arrest a few students; but as the crowd circles them — non-threateningly, but insistent — the police begin to retreat. Then, amazingly, the students (via People’s mic) offer the retreating police a moment of peace: “We are willing to give you a brief moment of peace so that you may take your weapons and your friends and go. Please do not return.”
And the police do.
It’s frightening and amazing to watch:
Here’s contact information (via Twitter, of course):
Chancellor’s office (530) 752-2065
UC Davis police (530) 752-1727
The officer who pulled out the pepper spray was Lieutenant John Pike. 530-752-3989 japikeiii@ucdavis.edu
This is what non-violent resistance in the face of egregious police brutality looks like.
[cross-posted at Balloon Juice]
I would pull my kid out of that college, and move her to a different one. I would sue the Police, School, and everyone who knew about this. I would hire PI, and I would sue everyone. I hope the parents of these kids do the same tomorrow am. Call a lawyer and start getting these officers fired, because if it was my kid; I would never stop until these cops were fired, and my kid went to a different college paid for by UC Davis.
It is as Hitler lined them up just perfect and sprayed them. What hell what that stuff; Agent Orange?
Of course you would sue Jo, it’s the American way.
The kids had ample time to get up and get away from the pepper spraying.
Of course you would sue Jo, it’s the American way.
The kids had ample time to get up and get away from the pepper spraying.
awwww. poor frank!
It must suck to be you, Frank.
Y’all lay off poor Frank. It’s hard out there for a cringing coward.
I love it, there’s an ad on this page recruiting people for the NYPD! Daily walk-in exams! Ugh.
What an amazing and transformative moment, at least for me. I watched the first half of the video last night and it enraged me so much I had to stop. I was cursing and muttering and wondering aloud when protesters would say enough and begin to fight back against the widespread brutality. I am amazed that people blithely ignore one of our highest imperatives, that of self preservation, and put themselves in harm’s way. I am still on the fence as to whether such behavior speaks to a deep commitment, or an entrenched sense of powerlessness engendered by the system. To some degree, it is probably both.
Having watched the entire thing, I was moved to tears. I would truly not have believed that was possible… Re-assessing :)
I live in Sacramento. The Davis police have worked hard for many years to secure their reputation for dumb-as-a-post judgement calls and Barney Fife-like overreactions. They’re aggie college security guards with NYPD dreams. This video is a nice illustration of it.
I grew up n the South in the 60′s witnessing this kind of thing as a child. As outrageous as it is to watch, to be blunt, this is the narrative that nonviolent civil disobedience is supposed to follow if the movement wants to stay viable. It’s the natural order of things. You’re supposed to be outraged watching it, and outrage is also part of the narrative. (I wanted to climb into my computer and start kicking some serious Fife ass myself.)
The students handled this exactly right, though–shouting “Shame on you!” and letting nonviolence and greater moral strength be the message. Nonviolence is the most effective method of change and it’s also the hardest to pull off successfully. This is a powerful, almost textbook example of how it’s supposed to work. Gandhi, MLK and Saul Alinsky would all be proud.
And it gives me faith in the viability of the OWS movement.
As outrageous as it is to watch, to be blunt, this is the narrative that nonviolent civil disobedience is supposed to follow if the movement wants to stay viable. It’s the natural order of things. You’re supposed to be outraged watching it, and outrage is also part of the narrative. (I wanted to climb into my computer and start kicking some serious Fife ass myself.)
Yup.
I’m appalled, how can this happen. In the video you can see four or five more officers with their night sticks at the ready while the pepper spraying takes place. They should be placed on leave also.
I’m with you on this one Frank, those officers should have been assisting their fellow officer and used those night sticks to move the crowd that would not comply with lawful orders to disperse. Yes it is truly appalling. An officer possibly risking his life and his fellow officers not assisting.