DENVER (AP) - The simmering tension near the Colorado Capitol escalated dramatically Saturday with more than a dozen arrests, reports of skirmishes between police and protesters and authorities firing rounds of pellets filled with pepper spray at supporters of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Officers in riot gear moved into a park late in the day where protesters were attempting to establish an encampment, hauling off demonstrators just hours after a standoff at the Capitol steps degenerated into a fight that ended in a cloud of Mace and pepper spray.
Denver police spokesman Matt Murray said 15 people were arrested in the evening confrontation, where authorities were moving to prevent protesters from setting up tents in the park, which are illegal. Officals say the demonstrators had been warned several times that the tents would not be allowed and those who attempted to stop police from dismantling the camp gear were arrested. Protesters have been staying in the park for weeks, but tents have repeatedly been removed.
Murray said that most of the protesters were peaceful but there was "just a die-hard group that didn't want to cooperate."
"We showed great restraint," he said. "We were calm. We went in and did what we had to do. There's a group of very committed people who believe in a cause, and then there are a few people who just want to cause trouble."
Earlier in the day about 2,000 protesters rallying against what they see as economic inequality and corporate greed marched downtown toward the Capitol, setting up the most intense moments of the Denver movement, which has lasted weeks.
A group of the marchers advanced toward the building and some tried to make their way up the steps. About eight officers scuffled with a group of protesters and police confirmed that they used Mace and fired pepper balls - hollow projectiles filled with the chemical irritant - to break up the crowd. Protesters told the paper at the time that they believed police used rubber bullets.
Murray said protesters kicked police and knocked one officer off his motorcycle. He said five protesters were arrested, including two for assault and one for disobedience.
Chantrell Smiley, 21, of Denver, said she has been protesting downtown for more than a week, sleeping on the ground in the park. She said she didn't see the officer get knocked from his motorcycle and didn't see any reason for the afternoon confrontation.
"It was just chaos. This wasn't necessary. My friend got hit with rubber bullets in the face. He was screaming and bleeding, then they Maced him. We're being peaceful. We don't want to be harmed. They came through and took everything down - our food, our blankets, everything's gone."
Mike Korzen, 25, told the Denver Post that he was among the group that police dispersed with rubber bullets and pepper spray and suggested that the police force was excessive.
"I was standing there with my hands behind my back," Korzen said, using a water bottle to rinse pepper spray from his eyes.
After nightfall about a dozen Denver police and Colorado state patrol cars remained in the area.
About 100 protesters milled about, most coughing and sneezing from the haze of pepper spray and Mace that still hovered in the air. Some laid out tarps on the ground, preparing to spend another night outside. Throughout the evening vehicles pulled up, dropping off blankets and food with cheering protesters.
35 comments:
From what I read, it does seem like the police used a little excessive force, I feel like they could have just maced them and the bullets were not necessary. I also feel like they should have just arrested the trouble makers like the ones refusing to take down their tents and the one who knocked the officer off his bike. I applaud the protestors who went back that night to start right back up again.
I think that the police all over the nation that are assigned to control the protests are becoming more draconian in their treatment. They are acting this way because of the Wall Street protests, that have shown clearly that police can do near anything they want without repercussions if they word their reasons correctly. Thus in a sense, the police are really causing each confrontation and then lying to validate each action. We have seen plenty of pictures of the protesters wounds, let us see the police injuries.
It's understandably that the government doesn't want the protesters at the Capitol and would prefer to not see them in the park. Although the polices' use of the pepper balls caused the protesters to believe that they were being shot by rubber bullets. The image of people being shot by the police will rally even more support for the protesters. The police, by using the more common and easily recognizable sprays and smokes can maintain a form of control among the protesters and those watching. The use of "bullets" can only end up harming the support for the government and police reputations. Conventional "weaponry" will prevent, or at least make smaller, an overwhelming uproar by the people.
The Occupy Wall Street sympathizers are being ridiculous. If they have been repeatedly told to move from that spot, that certain things they were doing are illegal, and have been given fair warning, then they have no one to blame for getting what they deserve but themselves. They're not there for any reason, they just want to cause trouble. The fact that the police are getting so much hate for doing their job is sickening. Their job is to keep the sane people in towns and cities safe. If the Occupy Wall Street loons want to sit on the ground and refuse to cooperate and be violent, then they deserve to get hit with rubber bullets and mace. They're ready to whine and complain and sit around and do nothing, but they're not ready for the real action that comes with all protest.
I know the author of this article intends to have me believe that police were using excessive force, and maybe the bullets/pellets in the face were unnecessary, but I just don't see the point of the Occupy Wall Street protests. These people are kidding themselves if they think they are accomplishing anything. I know corporate greed is a major issue, what with their ridiculously lavish Las Vegas trips and everything, but the protestors aren't stopping anything - they are wasting their time. And I agree with Karthryn - if an armed police officer tells you to take down your tent, you take down your stupid tent!
I feel that the police were using a little bit of excessive force, but if you're told to move from a certain area and what you're doing is illegal, I don't feel sorry for these protesters. Although, I do commend these protesters for their determined will to get their message out there, even after being attacked by the law enforcement.
What struck me while I was reading this article was the inconsistencies in the two stories. The protesters claim that they were peacefully exercising their right to protest. Conversely the police say the protesters that were "harmed" were being overly belligerent and aggressive. The two different sides can't even agree on what kind of "weapons" the police used to calm down the protest. I personally am more apt to believe the police's account of the events. The protesters' judgement is being clouded by their emotional attachment to their cause so they are more likely to embellish their side of the story. By making the police look bad they are trying to advance their cause by making the general public feel sorry for them. The fact is, whether or not they have a valid social viewpoint, the protesters weren't acting within the law. Not saying they deserved "rubber bullets" (if there were any), but they were putting themselves at risk for some sort of punishment by breaking the rules.
What struck me while I was reading this article was the inconsistencies in the two stories. The protesters claim that they were peacefully exercising their right to protest. Conversely the police say the protesters that were "harmed" were being overly belligerent and aggressive. The two different sides can't even agree on what kind of "weapons" the police used to calm down the protest. I personally am more apt to believe the police's account of the events. The protesters' judgement is being clouded by their emotional attachment to their cause so they are more likely to embellish their side of the story. By making the police look bad they are trying to advance their cause by making the general public feel sorry for them. The fact is, whether or not they have a valid social viewpoint, the protesters weren't acting within the law. Not saying they deserved "rubber bullets" (if there were any), but they were putting themselves at risk for some sort of punishment by breaking the rules.
The officers and the protesters need to work this problem out before the situation becomes worse. It is true that the protesteres were doing an act that was illegal-setting up tents in parks without permission and also being stubborn, but it was also wrong for the officers to act immature. The offcers should find other solultions to resolve this mess. Also the protesters should find a different method of coicing their argument.
Clearly more sense needs to be practiced by both the police force and the protesters. If the protesters are going to partake in illegal actions, then they have to be prepared to face the consequences. The police seemed to just be doing their job by keeping them from setting up in the park. There is nothing at all wrong with the occupy protests, but the members of the movement should be sure they act in a peaceful manner. As for the police, they should keep away from any excessive punishment of these protesters, while still maintaining the law.
I also believe that the Denver police used a little too much power over the protestors. If the cops were that serious then take the people that weren't listening. They didnt have to take it out on everybody.
I feel like the police went a little overboard, they did not need to shoot rubber bullets at people, that was unnecassary. They could have use a little mace, and could have calmy asked them to take down their things. The ones who refused to do so could have been punished.
The police say the incidents happen in one way while the protesters relay the incidents in a noticably different way. Whether this is intentional or not is slightly irrelavant because I do not believe that the police deserve all the blame they are receiving. Though they may have acted rashly when forced into a delicate situation, their actions are understandable when you consider the immense pressure they must've been under. Likewise, the protesters cannot seek to blame the police, because they bared themselves to the consequences by taking part in the protest. They should have known that they would face considerable opposition and suffer consequences during these protests. Since they refused to quit and continued to protest in a manner disagreeable with the law, the police merely fulfilled their job requirements. Just because people were adamantly standing up for what they believed in does not mean they should be exempt from the negative reactions they might encounter. The police may have reacted too intensely but I believe their actions are definitley not as wrong as the protesters.
The police exerts too much force in stopping this movement, however trying to stop a group of protestors will only fuel the fire even more. I wasn't a strong supporter of this movement at first, but as time progressed, I became angry just hearing about how police are using excessive force while citizens are practicing their 1st Amendment Right. The protestors mean no harm, they just want the government to realize that what they are doing is wrong and unjust. If the government does not realize this soon enough, the "Occupy Wall Street" sub-groups won't be their only problem. The government will simply lose the support of people, and possibly control of the country in general.
The police used unnecessary force against a harmless crowd. Sure some were there just to make trouble, use force against them arrest the people who nocked over the motorcycle not the ones just in a crowd, protesting something they have the right to protest. Throwing pepper spray and shooting rubber bullets seems over the line. I think the effect will be that more protesters come.
The article tends to lean on the side of sympathy for the protesters. It really seems that this could have been handled in a better way. I think that using both forms of those weapons was a little excessive but at the same time if your on city property and and someone with authority is telling you to relocate, then you relocate. Really people, it's a no brainer. Freedom of speech does not exempt you from trespassing or breaking the law. Besides how is all of this protesting going to change anything there just isn't anything that can be done by shouting in the streets day in day out. It's just not logical or efficient.
Peaceful protest is an important part of a democracy. I have been following the Occupy Wall Street movement and reading about what has been happening at the protests. It seems like the police have been exercising unnecessary force in some circumstances and that is outrageous. If a group of people are gathered peacefully then it doesn't make sense to use force to break them up. Hopefully the violence between police and protesters ends. Then the news about OWS would be about achievements of the movement and not violence against it.
Yes, I do believe the police have the right to ask the protestors to leave a certain area, but the amount of forced used on them was unnecessary. Some people might see the result of this as a cause to end all of the protests throughout the nation, before someone really gets hurt, or possibly even worse. As for the actual protestors themselves, this gives them another reason to stand for what the majority of them believe in. No matter what the consequences may be.
Of course, there are always two sides to every story. I do think that the police used a bit too much of aggression with their forces they took. However, if the protestors were warned previously that certain things they were doing were illegal and they continued to do them, then that is clearly their fault. Personally i believe this whole thing was blown out of proportion. I do believe this situation was unfortunate for the protestors but certain consequences are to be received for dramatic actions of protesting. I think the police were only doing their jobs and i think it was great how there were still some protestors that continued to stay at the park that same night.
I believe that protesting in cities other than New York aren't really necessary. Since the stock market and exchange are in that specific city. The message in other cities don't mean as much if they were in New York.
The "peaceful" protesters would not have had to deal with the police if they had not been engaging in illegal activity. They brought the punishment on themselves by ignoring the officer's instructions. The police used force because the protesters would not cooperate. If the protesters had listened, the police would not have used "rubber bullets"
The police were perfectly within their rights to use to 'excessive' force as they did. I don't exactly condone the use of rubber bullets for something as moderately peaceful as an Occupy Wall Street protest but as for the man who was holding his hands behind his back: he deserved to be maced. Protests can turn violent, and the man should have realized that holding his hands behind his back meant he could have been hiding something to harm the officer. Even someone who has watched crime shows or movies at the theater knows that you hold you hands up where they can be seen. The officers have to treat minor riots as a threat to avoid death. Seeing as how no one has died I align myself with the officers.
The protesters however should be able to continue protesting as long as they follow the laws of the city; meaning that they aren't allowed to camp in the park or march up the steps of city hall. This type of behavior is considered to be somewhere around the public disturbance and/or nuisance categories.
I realize only a few people are protesting in this manner, which is why I believe the protests can continue. On a side note however, it would be nice to have a clearer reason for the protests besides 'economic equality'. That way the violence presented by the select few might mean something. Otherwise the protest is meaningless, the people are wasting their time, and all protesters should go home to possibly try again when they have someone to speak for them; like the Tea Party having Palin.
The protesters were asked to leave more than a couple of times and being asked to move they still didn't. The police had every right to go in there and move tents out because they had already warnded the protesters that they were going to do that if they weren't going to move. But, yet on the other hand police officers didn't have to go that far with the bullets. So I believe that the police officers had every right to do what they did because they gave fair warning about what was going to happen if they were not going to move.
Well ive grown up hating the police so i'm a little biased. But as always, they made things way more dramatic than it needs to be. It was, for the most part, a peaceful demonstration and using pepper spray and mase is just rediculous. Whoever kicked the officer off of his bike should get a medal of honor or something becasue thats awesome. The lazy policeman needs to get off of his bike anyway, he probably needs the exercise.
The protestors were there just to get their message out, but they did get warned about their illegal actions so it is their own fault. However the police went to far with the weapons they used to get control of the protest. But it does not seem right how the ones that were not causing harm were arrested also, the police should have been arresting the ones that were causing trouble. It is just a streeful time for Americans.
I find it concerning that these unnecessary Occupy Wall Street movements have taken a violent turn. The fact the protesters have become increasingly defensive and violent toward the police warrants concerns from all levels of the government, not just of the city police. Sure, the police's invasion of the protester's camp already outfitted in riot gear is odd within itself, but these protesters knew exactly what they were getting into when they decided to break the law and set up a camp where it is illegal to do so. Also, since these unlawful protesters claim that the police were overtly violent by hitting them with "rubber bullets" when they were being "peaceful" shows that these protesters have inconsistent and possibly slanderous stories.
The police probably shouldn't have done what they did but they were told not. It would have been a smart idea to leave. They did earn some respect by going back and protesting
I think that the police used excessive force more than necessary because according to the article, most of the protesters were peaceful and didn't cause much trouble. The police officers are most likely frustrated at the Wall Street protests so they're lashing out in a very harsh manner. I understand when the need arises for them to bring out the mace, tear gas, etc but in this example (the tents) there was absolutely no need for that. However, the other protesters allegedly kicked a police officer off his horse and in a situation like the use of mace is absolutely acceptable. It's acceptable because they were being disrepectful to a law enforcer and there needs to be consequences that follow such behavior.
After reading this article, I think that the police were overreacting and just wanted the protest to end immediately. The police seemed to be irritated by the protesters from the start and weren't going to give them a warning of how they were planning on handling the situation. I think once the police started using pepper spray and rubber bullets, that aggravated the protesters to stay and were doing it out of anger to irritate the police. The police could of just easily arrested the people that were there just to cause trouble and that wouldn't cooperate, but the others who claimed they were calm shouldn't of been punished the way they were.
The police did not use excessive force. If you are putting up tents where tents are illegal, you are breaking the law, and it's the police's duty to make you stop. The Occupy protests violence has proven that the police's use of non-lethal violence was completely justified. The police, not only were out-numbered, but were simply men and women trying to perform their job to the best of their ability. Unlike the protesters, who prefer to receive money from the government for their extended camping trip. Not only was the violence necessary, I applaud the respectable men and women of the police force for not using lethal weapons. Perhaps if the "occupy" protests had a "clear and unified message", their purpose would be known. However, their lack of clear directive makes their long-term goals cloudy. I got cut off by a black BMW today. It was wrong, but in our system, it's not illegal, and I'm sure not going to protest in his front lawn, because I know it's not going to change. The occupy protest will not change a thing, except perhaps the riot techniques the NYPD uses.
This police restraint is really not necessary. These people are expressing their opinions, trying to get some change in this country, trying to stop the downhill fall. Sure, some protesters will go a little far. But even then, no one would have knocked a police officer off his motorcycle if there hadn't been any policemen in the first place. And even so, all right, arrest the rabble-rousers. It does not in any way justify harming the other protesters. It doesn't matter whether they killed anyone of not, that their bullets were rubber, but they caused people pain and made people bleed. They harmed everyone even though they admitted that most of the protesters were peaceful.
I know that some Policemen in other cities such as New York and Boston have been exploited by the press to show the excessive force and cruel and unnecessary ways to get peaceful protesters to comply but I'm not at all in sympathy toward these Denver protesters. It's fine that they are getting their point across but they no that the parks aren't state camping grounds so why try to pitch a tent in the park when they had been told multiple times. They are just begging to get maced. I understand that there are some peaceful protesters but you can't go around beating up and assaulting cops and charging at the capitol building for your cause. I'm actually quite disappointed in this and I feel that a good cause such as this should not be scarred by a few troublesome protesters, it doesn't help Occupy's image and thus makes their cause much weaker.
I think both groups are going about this the wrong way. I find most of this debacle unnecessary. If the protesters were as "peaceful" as they claimed to be, then the officers would have no need to fire pepper balls or mace at the group. If the protesters haven't realized that some of the things they're doing are illegal, then the police should enforce it, it's the officer's job. On the other hand, the police officers may have misunderstood which people within the protests are at fault. Although looking at the results, the pepper/"rubber" balls were a bit too much. The bottom line is that this didn't really have to happen. If the protest groups were to stay civil and followed the laws there wouldn't be much trouble.
I think that they should have arrested the people refusing to put their tents down and the one who knocked the officer off his bike. The police shooting the bullets was uncalled for, but then again if people aren't wanting to do what police have asked them to do then they have no other way to fix it then by what they did. Protestors put that upon themselves. Protestors were saying that they were peacefully excerissing their right to protest. Cops and protestors need to fix their problems before everything just blows out of porportion.
Although the protesters were warned and their actions were illegal i feel that the excessive force the policemen used was completely unnecessary. The police spokesman even said that most of the protesters were peaceful so there was no need to fire rounds of pellets filled with pepper spray, Mace and especially rubber bullets at them. As for the group of protester's that weren't cooperating, simply arrest them and don't get the rest of the protesters involved. Also the policemen didn't just take down the tents but they also took the protesters food and blankets. Their actions were out of hand and the situation was blown out of proportion. I applaud those that remained at the scene after having the police strip away all of their supplies.
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