Police Pepper Spray Peaceful UC Davis Students(HUGE UPDATE!)

[Deacon]

Yet my point still remains. On a topic like this, it's too hard to form a strong opinion on the situation, as I was not one of the protesters, nor an officer, and all I know of the situation is again, what little was shown on the video, as well as your information, which for all I know was shat out of the media's manipulative asshole.
All I do know though, is that the stupid Occupy protesters have cause a lot of shit, and it's used as an excuse for idiots to sit around and get high. Not to actually make a "change".

Don't forget though, these are college students. California college students, no less. They protest for the sake of protesting, but the point remains; they were already a passive crowd beforehand; You saw them sitting there. They weren't attacking anyone, weren't bumrushing the police car, nothing.

They were just sitting, peaceful protest.

It doesn't need a backstory; this guy's just a huge dick

[Doctor Who]

Don't forget though, these are college students. California college students, no less. They protest for the sake of protesting, but the point remains; they were already a passive crowd beforehand; You saw them sitting there. They weren't attacking anyone, weren't bumrushing the police car, nothing.

They were just sitting, peaceful protest.

It doesn't need a backstory; this guy's just a huge dick

Yes, some things doesn't need a backstory or a background detail to explain who's the protagonist here.

[○ Μαρία ○]

Man this video seems a bit sketchy for me to judge. :\
I am not really one to pick a side in this type of situation.

The Police officers could have handled this situation in a much calmer manner then just pepper spraying them.
But you see, I mean, for there to be such a crowd something must have been going on. And if someone superior to those kids told them to leave and they didn't? No matter how calm they were, it's considered insubordination, and not to sound like a drag, but they should have seen the consequences coming.
So... yeah that's my opinion on this.

[Goat]

You guys should really read all of that new post. Just don't TLDR it.

[Deacon]

Man this video seems a bit sketchy for me to judge. :\
I am not really one to pick a side in this type of situation.

The Police officers could have handled this situation in a much calmer manner then just pepper spraying them.
But you see, I mean, for there to be such a crowd something must have been going on. And if someone superior to those kids told them to leave and they didn't? No matter how calm they were, it's considered insubordination, and not to sound like a drag, but they should have seen the consequences coming.
So... yeah that's my opinion on this.

A peaceful protest in a public place is a right we have as citizens. As long as we don't infringe on the rights of others. The point remains:

As an officer of the law, you do not pull your weapon in anger
you do not arrest without probable cause.
you do not pepper spray innocent, sitting students.

He was out of line. Pepper spray is not a crowd control device, tear gas is. Pepper spray is used to subdue. These students did not need to be subdued, they were not acting up or blocking streets or destroying property. They were sitting. Protesting an arrest they thought was unwarranted. While not their say, they were not attacking, acting out, etc., and therefore this was an unnecessary use of force.

Just watch. He pulled the can after everyone was sitting. All they had done was lock arms.

[Goat]

We should turn this into an Occupy x thread. We haven't had a good discussion like this in quite a while.
Oh and here you go:

[Deacon]

We should turn this into an Occupy x thread. We haven't had a good discussion like this in quite a while.
Oh and here you go:

I personally don't support the Occupy X movements. There are too many without a clearly defined goal. Its people from everywhere demanding everything.
But I do love the mic checks they do. God, I love that.

[Nemisous]

i cant say i agree with what the protesters are demanding, but i also cant agree with the shameful way the police are dealing with it.

[ledjohnny]

Really? I don't think the police are dealing with it that badly, could be a lot worse! It's just this and some other instances.

It's quite an unorganized movement in terms of what is desired.

[Nemisous]

indeed, one side spreads the ideals of socialism, another whats smaller government and an end to the fed, and the rest is just a bunch of college students just ranting about stuff they don't even know about.

but, these protesters feed on attention, you deny them that and they fizzle out. much like a troll

[Goat]

indeed, one side spreads the ideals of socialism, another whats smaller government and an end to the fed, and the rest is just a bunch of college students just ranting about stuff they don't even know about.

but, these protesters feed on attention, you deny them that and they fizzle out. much like a troll

I'm going to hell for this.

[Nemisous]

I'm going to hell for this.

 

[Xrain]

OCCUPY THE TUNDRA!!!

So the occupy movement...
From what I have understood, it basically started as a group of people who were dissatisfied with their current situation and so they went to the people who they see as the root cause of it all (wall street) and started yelling at them.

Things I like about it:

1. Has become a large enough deal that it might make some people on wall street question their actions, alot of investors and bankers operate in a bubble with no understanding of the consequences their actions cause. Though I understand why this happens as there isn't really a direct correlation between their actions and its consequences. When an engineer makes a mistake a bridge falls down and kills hundreds of people. Not quite the same as when wall street investors abuse the system, its not like they just killed someone, it takes time and many people to make the same mistake to eventually start precipitating consequences to the general public.

2. Hasn't just turned into a excuse to riot and break things.

Things I don't like about it:

1. Nebulous goals, it's just a bunch of people yelling I DON'T LIKE THE CURRENT SITUATION FIX IT! Which isn't specific enough to actually know what to do about it, they have attempted to come up with more specific goals, though I don't feel that they are specific enough to be able to feel like they will get a measurable change. They may be horrendously rich wall street investors but they are only as clever as you and I are, they aren't gods who can answer every problem.

If instead they said, this, this and this are the reasons many people in the US are out of work, please stop these behaviors as they are immoral. Then both sides would have a common ground and would be able to come to some sort of compromise.

2. Many occupy movements just form because people want to protest something.


The only thing I hope that will  come out of this movement is these investors and bankers to have an understanding of the consequences of their actions, and to not only have personal gain on the forefront of their minds as they go about their lives.

I am doubtful that this will happen, but hey even if a few people start questioning things now it might just be able to set a precedent for the future.


As for that cop, I'd definitely agree his actions were unnecessary, and pepper spray is definitely not a crowd control device. It doesn't make people want to move, it makes them want to curl up in a ball and cry.