"Why are y’all gearing up like this is war?"*
Around the country, Occupy Wall Street protesters have been brutalized by police, often dressed in riot gear and protected by helmets, shields and bullet proof vests, who attack unarmed, mostly peaceful protesters with pepper spray, rubber bullets, sonic cannons and other harmful weapons. These supposedly "less than lethal" weapons violate the rights of protesters, and can cause serious injury.
On November 18, police at UC Davis doused peaceful, sitting protesters, with pepper spray at point blank range. (video)
On November 15, police in Seattle pepper-sprayed 84-year old activist Dorli Rainey... and a pregnant woman and a priest. (more)
On October 25, police in Oakland, California, armed with lethal and “less than lethal” weapons, dressed in riot gear, protected by helmets, shields and bullet proof vests responded to unarmed protesters with disproportionate force, resulting in the critical injury of one protester, Scott Olsen. (video)
The use of supposedly "non-lethal" weapons against protesters must stop, police must respect the right of the people to speak out, demonstrate and agitate.
We call upon state and local office holders to conduct rigorous, ongoing investigative oversight into the operation of law enforcement and intelligence agencies under their jurisdiction. Oversight must include police response to demonstrations, and surveillance and intelligence collection of protest groups.
We call upon state and local office holders to enact measures to prevent police abuses to rights of assembly.
