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California cops on leave after pepper-spraying sparks outrage
Monday November 21, 2011 09:18:23 AM,
IANS
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Washington: After a
video of two police officers pepper-spraying non-violent
protesters at point-blank range sparked nationwide outrage, the
University of California at Davis has placed them on
administrative leave.
Friday's incident has led to calls for the resignation of
University Chancellor Linda Katehi, who announced the action in a
written statement Sunday saying she shares the "outrage" of
students and was "deeply saddened" by the use of the chemical
irritant by campus police.
A group of about a dozen protesters sat on a path with their arms
interlocked as police moved in to clear out a protest encampment
affiliated with the Occupy Wall Street movement Friday, CNN
reported.
Most of the protesters had their heads down as a campus police
officer walked down the line, spraying them in their faces in a
sweeping motion.
"I was shocked," Sophia Kamran, one of the protesters subjected to
the spray, was quoted as saying Saturday. "When students are
sitting on the ground and no way of moving to be violent, being
totally peaceful, I don't understand the use of pepper spray
against them."
The school said ten protesters arrested were given misdemeanour
citations for unlawful assembly and failure to disperse. Eleven
were treated for the effects of pepper spray, which burns the eyes
and nose, causing coughing, gagging and shortness of breath.
Earlier, UC Davis spokeswoman Claudia Morain said police used
pepper spray after protesters encircled them and blocked them from
leaving. Cut off from backup, the officers determined the
situation was not safe and asked people several times to make
room, Morain said.
Morain told CNN that 25 tents were in place Friday afternoon
despite fliers explaining the campus prohibits overnight camping.
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