A disturbing and worrying video of passive Occupy Wall Street protesters at University of California, Davis, getting pepper sprayed by police made the rounds Saturday afternoon on YouTube, Facebook and Twitter.
A group of about a dozen students 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. Most of the protesters had their heads down as a campus police officer walked down the line, spraying them in their faces with a pepper spray.
Sophia Kamran, one of the protesters subjected to the spray, said Saturday. "I was shocked. 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."
In the video above, an officer displays the pepper spray can before spraying it at protesters who are seated with their heads down. After that, cries are heard from the crowd. As the protesters are arrested, some in the crowd shout “Shame on you” at the officers.
Pepper spray is often used for crowd control and usual causes tears, pain and even temporary blindness, but rarely causes death or lasting harm.
Latest update:
Friday's incident has led to calls for the resignation of UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi, who announced the action in a written statement Sunday. Katehi said she shares the "outrage" of students and was "deeply saddened" by the use of the chemical irritant by campus police.
"When students covered their eyes with their clothing, police forced open their mouths and pepper-sprayed down their throats," wrote Nathan Brown, an assistant professor in the college's English Department, in an open letter to the chancellor.
"I am deeply saddened that this happened on our campus, and as chancellor, I take full responsibility for the incident," she said. "However, I pledge to take the actions needed to ensure that this does not happen again."
The association said Ms Katehi should resign, a call she rejected."I do not think that I have violated the policies of the institution," she said."I have worked personally very hard to make the campus a safe campus for all."
As per latest developments Two University of California, Davis police officers involved in pepper-spraying are being placed on administrative leave as the chancellor of the school accelerates the investigation into the incident.
YouTube commenters for the video were in support of the protesters and critical of the police.
The Occupy Wall Street protests began in New York more than two months ago against perceived economic inequality. Similar protests have since sprung up in other places around the United States and elsewhere in the world.
