UC Davis--What Really Happened

[AlwaysMoving]

If enough people felt like this through history we'd

- still be under the king of england

Nobody is forced to go to college and pay tuition.

- woman would not be voting
- blacks woud still be segregated

Unless the college is charging certain students more tuition, their protest has nothing to do with equal rights.

 

[fall08CP]

These privileged, mob mentality "protesters" make me sad for our future.

Remember that for every angry protesters, there are tens of thousands young people volunteering through Americorps, Peace Corps, Teach for America, etc. I'd be more encouraged than sad for our future- don't let the media fool you.

 

[Magic Mom]

Remember that for every angry protesters, there are tens of thousands young people volunteering through Americorps, Peace Corps, Teach for America, etc. I'd be more encouraged than sad for our future- don't let the media fool you.

And just as many serving our country in the military and local police departments.

 

[cornflake]

Nobody is forced to go to college and pay tuition.

Unless the college is charging certain students more tuition, their protest has nothing to do with equal rights.

So protesting is ok, but only so long as it's for something you, personally, agree with?

These privileged, mob mentality "protesters" make me sad for our future.

Was that true for you of protesters in the '60s and '70s?

 

[CPT Tripss]

Hmmmm! No cops with gas masks. Not on their heads and not on their thighs. How the heck can they go on crowd control duty with no gas masks? That meant they couldn't use a more effective method of dispersing protesters.

I was struck by how easily the police force was broken into two (maybe more) elements by the protesers. Once the police got themselves "trapped" they couldn't "fog" a path to use to leave.

Poor tactics and poor execution.

 

[Rabscuttle]

After reading some of the "defenses" in this thread for the protesters, it's no surprise to see where this generation's feelings of self-entitlement come from. These students went from civil disobedience to aggressively threatening the police in the lawful performance of their duties. To those saying that these students did not deserve to suffer the consequences of their criminal and threatening actions are just part of the problem.

Wow, that really does sum it up in a nut shell. I would bet that everyone of these "children" received a "participation trophy" for whatever sport that they tried because they 'deserved" them. What should happen is that the school should review the videos and expel any student that threatened the police. While they may have a right to protest, there is no right to remain at a university where they blatantly broke the law, formed a mob and presented a threat.

 

[Art 1]

Wow, that really does sum it up in a nut shell. I would bet that everyone of these "children" received a "participation trophy" for whatever sport that they tried because they 'deserved" them. What should happen is that the school should review the videos and expel any student that threatened the police. While they may have a right to protest, there is no right to remain at a university where they blatantly broke the law, formed a mob and presented a threat.

+1. The police did what needed to be done. The students were told over and over very nicely to clear the way. Probably many of them have ever been made to do something they didn't want to do before.

 

[FireDancer]

I think people are letting their dislike for the OWS movement cloud their judgement when it comes to the police and our government's response to the protests around the country. I dislike the movement in general but it is important that we allow even those whom we don't agree with to protest or assemble. I have said the same thing about that Westboro church. I despise their message but support their right to express it.

It was a bad situation the police were in and the students were asking to get arrested but I think it was too far pepper spraying the students who were sitting there. I have noticed the police reach for the pepper spray or taser in situations where it wasn't needed. Mere non-compliance shouldn't result in anything more than the minimum physical force which is often neither of these things. I support the police but we need to step back and re-evaluate when we use these non-lethal weapons.

If the students were throwing bricks or setting property on fire it is one thing. Sitting there or blocking a path is wrong and not moving should have gotten them arrested but it shouldn't get you tased or pepper sprayed.

When students in totalitarian regimes in the middle east or Africa protest in the streets we call them freedom fighters and applaud their resolve. When students living in what should be the most free place on Earth do the same we call them criminals. I think that is hypocritical.

 

[Magic Mom]

I think people are letting their dislike for the OWS movement cloud their judgement when it comes to the police and our government's response to the protests around the country. I dislike the movement in general but it is important that we allow even those whom we don't agree with to protest or assemble. I have said the same thing about that Westboro church. I despise their message but support their right to express it.

It was a bad situation the police were in and the students were asking to get arrested but I think it was too far pepper spraying the students who were sitting there. I have noticed the police reach for the pepper spray or taser in situations where it wasn't needed. Mere non-compliance shouldn't result in anything more than the minimum physical force which is often neither of these things. I support the police but we need to step back and re-evaluate when we use these non-lethal weapons.

If the students were throwing bricks or setting property on fire it is one thing. Sitting there or blocking a path is wrong and not moving should have gotten them arrested but it shouldn't get you tased or pepper sprayed.

When students in totalitarian regimes in the middle east or Africa protest in the streets we call them freedom fighters and applaud their resolve. When students living in what should be the most free place on Earth do the same we call them criminals. I think that is hypocritical.

Speaking for myself, that's not true. Before I saw the complete video, I thought the police were wrong. Maybe some of the people condemning the police are letting their support for OWS cloud their judgement?

 

[Art 1]

Speaking for myself, that's not true. Before I saw the complete video, I thought the police were wrong. Maybe some of the people condemning the police are letting their support for OWS cloud their judgement?

I think that you are right in that. I think the police were actually nice and patient. Same with the group in Orlando. Nothing but trouble makers really. I went up to Zucatti Park, had to see for myself. Boy did I. Took some pics. Maybe I'll post some of them. Odd balls and freaks. I don't think most of them have any idea of what's really going on.

 

[Jex]

 

[Jex]

Not sure why everyone assumes that if they had just arrested everyone instead of spraying them it would have ended peaceful. Maybe some of you have never seen a riot break out, but it doesnt take much to trigger it. I feel they did the students a favor by just spraying them, probably saved quite a few of them from going to the hospital with real injuries.

 

[BadgerGirl84]

If enough people felt like this through history we'd

- still be under the king of england
- woman would not be voting
- blacks woud still be segregated

and so on.

AndyLL, can you explain to me what "right" these students were fighting for? I'm not seeing a similarity here. TIA.

 

[Jennasis]

Speaking for myself, that's not true. Before I saw the complete video, I thought the police were wrong. Maybe some of the people condemning the police are letting their support for OWS cloud their judgement?

Possibly. Since I honestly have NO idea what the OWS movement is ultimately about, I feel I can say my judgment isn't clouded by it. The police over reacted IMO.

 

[FireDancer]

Speaking for myself, that's not true. Before I saw the complete video, I thought the police were wrong. Maybe some of the people condemning the police are letting their support for OWS cloud their judgement?

I'm sure it goes the other way too. I don't support the movement and think it is kind of a waste but I want my fellow citizens to be free to waste their time protesting anything they want. Even if it is disruptive, as long as it isn't destructive.

 

[AndyLL]

AndyLL, can you explain to me what "right" these students were fighting for? I'm not seeing a similarity here. TIA.

Hmmm... I don't recall the constitution only allowed peaceful assembly if that assembly is targeting a 'right'

But I'll bite anyway.

While unorganized, mis-targeted, and unstructured... OWS is protesting for the right of the citizens to be treated the same as corporations.

Banks received 10s of Trillions of dollars in loans, bailouts, and investment guarantees from the representives of the citizens of the USA.

Our reward for our generosity towards the banks? A return of huge profits, huge bonuses, and a shifting of 100s of 1000s more jobs overseas.

And half our government quibbles about ~50 billion in extended unemployment benefits for the common worker.

We are told that to jump start the economy the 'job creators', which are the top 1% and big corporations, need more money in their pockets and it'll 'trickle down' to the rest of us.

So massive tax incentives are given to them. A company like GE can have 14 Billion in profits and still receive a refund from the government. ( and they are just one of many)

Our reward for our generosity for a favourable tax policey for GE and other F500 corporations? Another 100s of 1000s of jobs shifted overseas.

And half our government is quibbling about continuing a 3 1/2% tax break for the middle class.

And strangely enough... the anit-tax teapartiers and Norquest are awful quiet about this impending tax hike on the middle class. ( perhaps because they are funded by the big corporations?)


Shall we mention the erosion of our rights from the patriot act?

Or the fact that huge corporations are allowed to track us through the internet and our phones?

Or that the Senate just passed a bill that requires the military to detain US citizens and suspend their constituitonal rights if they are 'suspected' of being terrorist?

There are a lot of reasons these days for college students and other to be protesting these days.

It's a little disheartening to see plenty of people cheering on a rent-a-cop pepper spraying peaceful protesters when there was about a million other ways of dealing with it.

 

[Jex]

Most university police officers are sworn law enforcement officers. The rent a cop statement discredits the rest of your post.

 

[cornflake]

AndyLL, can you explain to me what "right" these students were fighting for? I'm not seeing a similarity here. TIA.

Again, there's absolutely no specification about what one can protest about or what grievances one can or cannot petition for redress of.

They're upset about a planned tuition increase.

 

[declansdad]

Possibly. Since I honestly have NO idea what the OWS movement is ultimately about, I feel I can say my judgment isn't clouded by it. The police over reacted IMO.

Curious, have you ever been in that situation? Just wondering what you are basing your opinion on.

 

[Mickey Fliers]

If the students were throwing bricks or setting property on fire it is one thing. Sitting there or blocking a path is wrong and not moving should have gotten them arrested but it shouldn't get you tased or pepper sprayed.

The students were not just "sitting there or blocking a path". They were surrounding the police and blocking their exit. They were demanding the release of previously arrested students. They were putting stipulations on how they would "allow" the police to leave...much like a ransom. These acts totally negated what the protesters were trying to accomplish and the police handled the situation (I believe) in a manner with the least amount of possible escalated violence or force. I don't know about you, but if someone blocks me somewhere and tells me I am unable to leave unless I meet their demands, I consider that a threatening situation.

And as for my previous comment about these "privileged, mob-mentality protesters making me sad"...I have two things to say.

1. I am sad because these protesters had zero idea at the consequence to their actions. They treated this protest as a joke. Most probably happened upon a group of students protesting and thought "Cool. Let's check this out.". Mob mentality is very scary...scarier still when half the people don't even know what's going on...but hey, they might get on You Tube. :roll eyes: This generation had been fed a line of "you are special", any attention is good attention and You Tube will make you famous. Sad.

2. I am sorry that I said I was sad for our future. That really isn't true. I have met and have some amazing kids who do not live with this perpetuating entitlement mentality. I showed the video to my oldest son and told him that if he ever found himself in that situation and he decided it was a good idea to block in and surround police over "tuition rate increases" at a school he CHOOSES to attend...he would get zero sympathy from me. Probably get a whack in the noggin for being dumb.

I am all for peaceful protest and civil disobedience. Obviously, they are sometimes a mean to creating a better country. But this "movement" is out of hand. When more than half don't even know what they are protesting, it kinda takes the point out of the protest and makes them a joke.