Cops pepper spray peaceful students

They have been using that definition for a while. If you don't do exactly what the officer says, and then walk to the car at their pace, its resisting arrest.

I like this

I'm not sure what you mean because this isn't "portrayed in the media" whatsoever. The mainstream media has only said, "Haha, look at these brats trying to 'change things', what's all that about? How annoying, let's hope it goes away soon. They have iPads, by the way! That invalidates them!" I haven't seen anything in the news about the wrongdoings of police, it's only by the glory of the internet, open and uncensored, that I've heard a lick of it.

The officer has had all his details released on the anonymous website. I'm pretty sure he's going to regret pepper spraying those students...............

http://anoncentral.tumblr.com/post/13023795840/d0x-uc-davis-pepper-spraying-officer-lt-john-pike

Oh crap. I hope he doesn't have a family.

Yes, I want him to regret it. But he, and his entirely innocent family if he has one, are about to get death threats, menacing phone calls, and stalkers . . . most of whom will have had absolute nothing to do with UC Davis.

This is NEVER a good thing.

What I'm saying is cops are always portrayed on the news in a bad light.

Always?

How many shows exist showing the police? You have TV documentary types (cops, swat, etc) which are PR. You have shows like law and order where even the bad ones are doing it for the right reasons.

As for the actual news? Any time they stop a drunk driver, a drug bust, even that NYC lone wolf guy, that us a good portrayal of the police.

So yes, when the bad ones turn up, or bad mistakes made, media hell should rain down.

That tshirt I posted was in CNBC. I would also argue that the internet these days IS part of the mainstream media.

This particular image/issue has made news world wide, just because American TV newscasts aren't talking about it doesn't mean its not in the mainstream media.

Moreover, the cops are generally viewed in this country in a very good light. Indeed, it is the tendency of both the courts and the public to give them every benefit of the doubt. In fact, the leeway the law gives them is often nothing short of breathtaking.

Attention needs to be drawn to police abuses for that reason alone. To many people who have suffered serious abuses of police power have found themselves unable to get any sort of remedy because the law, and public opinion, is stacked so heavily in favor of the cops.

Do I think most cops are rotten? Not at all. Do I think our system is set up in such a way that its easy for rotten cops to get away with it, particularly if the victim is poor, brown, or, it seems, young? Yep. It is a testimony to the basic decency of most police officers that abuse is not much more common than it is.

I was getting ready to post that image. Amanda Palmer linked it from the creator's source on her Twitter. I think it's pretty awesome.

Ya it was posted to reddit, then due to demand it was put on etsy, and then they got something like 800 orders from reddit in a few hours so they moved to another site. Crazy lol.

I just ordered one off of Etsy . . . . I'm sure I won't see it until next year considering the backlog!

I'm not saying that I support what those cops did, but on the flip side, it appears, from what I have heard, they had an arrestee in custody and the students formed a circle to block the cops from transporting said arrestee. Do I think they did the right thing? Not so much, but there are two sides to every story.

No need to go by "what I have heard" -- there are countless videos from every possible angle of what happened. You can see at least one cop easily stepping over students seated passively on the sidewalk. If that comes in any way close to warranting the use of very painful and potentially dangerous force (yes pepper spray can be dangerous when sprayed in the face and mouth as in this case) in your mind...

There was a lot of misinformation spread in the immediate aftermath. Doesn't mean there's any excuse for buying it when there is readily available proof to the contrary...

Like I said, I don't necessarily agree with the actions taken... It seems that you are alluding to the fact that I DO agree, which is not the case. Just because I am offering up more possible information, doesn't mean I have bias either way.

I guess I'm just confused then. I mean there's video directly contrary to what you are saying so...what's the value of that "possible information"?

I have never heard that description of the incident either, and I've read several descriptions from various parties.

Watch the video I posted. They are clearly sitting in a line, not surrounding anyone. (though if as cops you push yourself into the centre of a group you will be surrounded, though that will be through your own choice and actions, not because the group surrounded you)

Not saying what you posted didn't happen. Just that wasn't THIS issue. And if you look at other pictures of the cop spraying the students, he is not stressed, or worried looking. He looks like he's spraying his garden for pests.