Pepper Spray Pandemonium

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 14:22:53 -0500
democracy, irc, news, pepper-spray, politics, uc-davis, umbc, usdemocrazy

It’s a sign of the times that holiday shopping has become something of a sport.

When a Los Angeles woman feared her fellow customers were getting the best deals, she didn’t hesitate to spray them right in the face.

It’s also a sign of the times that we’re not more shocked to hear that.

Sure, some were outraged that a police officer casually pepper sprayed a group of peaceful student protesters at UC Davis last week, but a surprising number of people didn’t seem to care.

UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi authorized the police presence and action against students. She tried (and perhaps in vain) to cast herself as a friend of student protesters, and feigned indignation over the incident.

As it turns out, she has a storied past of turning the police against student protesters:

[Katehi is] an overt supporter of police repression on campus. Although she has tried to disavow any responsibility for the pepper spraying of students, it has quickly emerged that she was a co-author of a report used to justify the recent repeal of a 1974 law, banning the police from Greek universities.

And to think that such casual violence has made its way into our everyday lives with no more serious reaction than mild amusement… Can we stop for a minute, take a step back, and think about this?

What does it mean that peppery spray, billy clubs, tasers, and other weapons of “non-lethal force” are employed so readily on peaceful protesters?

While you think about it, here are some more “Casually Pepper Spraying Cop” images for you. Enjoy, if you can.

The “Mean Mr. Mustard”

Police brutality is a problem at Hogwarts, too.

And finally, an homage to one of our favorite movies… and a strangely appropriate addition to the already ultra-violent scene.