Yesterday, citing safety concerns due to the onset of winter, Albany mayor Jerry Jennings ordered an end to the occupation. Speaking on a morning radio program today, Jennings said, "There was no legal ambush. Everybody that was involved in this knew that the deadline was the 22nd. All hell didn't break loose. I didn't go in the middle of the night like they did in other cities. Our guys, they did show restraint."http://gothamist.com/2011/12/23/video_cop_pepper_sprays_occupy_alba.php#photo-1
Apparently some people got pepper sprayed after a melee ensued with the police.
Were the police showing proper restraint ? Were they just doing there jobs ? Or should there be outrage (there is some) over this non-lethal form of restraint ?
Originally posted by utherpendragonDan Carlin recently had an interesting observation that (I'm paraphrasing) painful but non-harmful methods like pepper spray may be the bete noire of protests in today's day and age. With methods like these, the authorities can essentially silence dissent without giving the protesters their "Kent State" moment that generates sympathy for their cause.
[quote]Yesterday, citing safety concerns due to the onset of winter, Albany mayor Jerry Jennings ordered an end to the occupation. Speaking on a morning radio program today, Jennings said, "There was no legal ambush. Everybody that was involved in this knew that the deadline was the 22nd. All hell didn't break loose. I didn't go in the middle of the n ...[text shortened]... e jobs ? Or should there be outrage (there is some) over this non-lethal form of restraint ?
Personally, I have no problem with the police using pepper spray when necessary to prevent a crowd from getting out of control and causing serious damage or hurting people.
Originally posted by utherpendragonPolice, like anybody else, should only use the degree of force appropriate to the situation. As the protestors were non-violent and indeed had marched around downtown for hours without incident the use of pepper spray back at Academy Park (which also hit several bystanders including a City Councilman) seems excessive.
[quote]Yesterday, citing safety concerns due to the onset of winter, Albany mayor Jerry Jennings ordered an end to the occupation. Speaking on a morning radio program today, Jennings said, "There was no legal ambush. Everybody that was involved in this knew that the deadline was the 22nd. All hell didn't break loose. I didn't go in the middle of the n ...[text shortened]... e jobs ? Or should there be outrage (there is some) over this non-lethal form of restraint ?