Pepper Spray

In the article “UC Davis police did not need to pepper spray” by Marcos Breton, it said that students were pepper sprayed while protesting. The article also said that the students were protesting to get UC Chancellor Linda P.B Katechi to step down and while doing so the UC Davis police came geared up and pepper sprayed the students. In response Linda P.B Katechi later apologized for what occurred with the students. Katechi also said “she never authorized the campus police to show up in riot gear or to use force against the students. But the cops did.” The article also mentions that this event may allow the students to accomplish more than just getting rid off Katechi and many cause a much bigger effect. By taking the spotlight from New York and Oakland with the “Occupy” movement.

In my opinion the cops should have not pepper sprayed the student’s as they were not being violent or showing any threatening movements towards the police. The intent of the pepper spray is to disorientate a person that is imposing threat towards one in order to show defense. But the students did not show any threatening behavior towards the campus police. The students were just sitting down in a certain area of the campus. I believe that this is a good example of what has become more common in today, which is for Law Enforcement to use any force necessary to show that they are the ones in charge not thinking of the ending result of their actions.

The Kanda City Star “Commentary: UC-Davis police didn’t need the pepper spray” by Marcos Breton

http://www.kansascity.com/2011/11/27/3285737/commentary-uc-davis-police-didnt