To Spray or Not to Spray

Late last week, university police at UC Davis tore down the tents of campus protesters, arresting 8 students in the process. Students were upset about increased tuition rates. At one point, to clear a path, the police pepper-sprayed a line of seated, quiet protesters.

What is your reaction to the video? How would you describe this scene?

What amendment to the Constitution protects our right to 'peacefully assemble?'

Was this protest peaceful? How was this protest different from the students at Penn State?

What laws were the UC Davis students breaking? Was the force used by the officers suitable given the situation?

Watch this clip of the Lt. Pike warning the students right before the incident. Does this change your opinion of what happened?

In the interests of fairness, put yourself in their shoes, and think about how you would have handled the situation. What action would have been more appropriate? How would you have handled the situation differently?

The video of the pepper-spraying has outraged the world and Lieutenant John Pike, the pepper-sprayer, is being vilified on the Internet, as are the rest of the police involved here.

Whats the big deal? Pepper spray is just a 'food product' right?

Is pepper spray 'America's new car horn?'

Perhaps we should be relieved that the weapon used in this case was pepper spray, not bullets, as in the Kent State massacre of 1970, in which the Ohio National Guard killed four unarmed students.


Read more: http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-11-21/news/30424391_1_pepper-spray-protesters-university-police#ixzz1f7hEnPrh