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Law enforcement and the Occupy movement

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The Occupy movement has been met with a variety of responses from local police departments since its beginning in 2011. According to documents obtained by the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund,[1] the FBI, state and local law enforcement officials treated the movement as a potential criminal and terrorist threat[2] and used fusion centers[3] and counterterrorism agents to investigate and monitor the Occupy movement.[4]

Pepperspraying at Occupy Wall Street - September 24

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Main article: Occupy Wall Street
External videos
video icon Footage of first incident
video icon Footage of the second incident

At least 80 arrests were made on September 24,[5] Videos which showed several penned-in female demonstrators being hit with pepper spray by a police official were widely disseminated, sparking controversy.[6] That police official was identified as Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna. After an investigation, Deputy Inspector Bologna, who makes an annual salary of $154,000, was transferred to a different station, and lost two weeks vacation time over the incident.[7]

Public attention to the pepper-sprayings resulted in a spike of news media coverage, a pattern that was to be repeated in the coming weeks following confrontations with police.[8] Clyde Haberman described the resultant public attention as a "big boost" that was "vital" for the still nascent Occupy movement.[9][10]

Wounded veteran at Occupy Oakland - October 25

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Main article: Occupy Oakland
External videos
video icon "Occupy Oakland video: Riot police fire tear gas, flashbang grenades." Oakland police fire tear gas against protesters. Oct. 25. Scott Olsen can be seen being evacuated at :58—1:23.[11]
video icon "Occupy Oakland video: Interview with Scott Olsen About His Injury from the Police Attack on October 25th, 2011." Scott Olsen discusses the events of Oct 25, his injuries, and the Oakland police department investigation[12]

On October 25, 2011, Scott Olsen, a 24-year-old Iraq War veteran suffered a skull fracture caused by a projectile that witnesses believed was a tear gas or smoke canister fired by the police.[13][14] A video by protesters shows the explosion of what appears to be a flash-bang device thrown by one officer near protesters attempting to aid Olsen.[15] The Associated Press later reported that it was not known exactly what kind of object had struck Olsen or who had thrown or fired it, but that protesters had been throwing rocks and bottles.[16] Olsen was rushed to the hospital by other protesters, who were fired upon with unknown police projectiles while attempting to aid him.[17] Doctors said that he was in critical condition. Scott Olsen has since undergone brain surgery. At least two other protesters were injured. No officers have been disciplined over the incident.[18]

The American Civil Liberties Union and National Lawyers Guild called for an investigation into the use of excessive force.[19]

Multiple incidents at Occupy Oakland - Nov 2/3

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Videographer shooting

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External videos
video icon "Shot by police with rubber bullet at Occupy Oakland"
Main article: Campbell v. City of Oakland

Shortly before 1 am on November 3, Oakland resident Scott Campbell was shot by police using a less-lethal round while he was filming a stationary line of police in riot gear, hours after the 2011 Oakland general strike. The apparently unprovoked shooting was documented by the resulting point-of-view video from Campbell's own camera.[20]

Veteran beaten

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External videos
video icon "Iraq war veteran Kayvan Sabehgi beaten by a police officer"

Kayvan Sabeghi, a 32-year-old local business owner and former U.S. Army Ranger, was hit with a baton numerous times by a police officer then arrested on the evening of November 2, 2011.[21] While in police custody, he complained of severe pain and asked for medical treatment but was transferred to a hospital only after 14–18 hours of imprisonment. Sabeghi underwent emergency surgery for a ruptured spleen and remained in the intensive care unit.[21][22]

Journalist Arrested

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Susie Cagle, a journalist, was arrested while wearing an Alternet press badge at the protests and was detained for 14 hours.[23]

Badge covered

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On the November 2 protests, Officer John Hargraves was filmed having placed black tape over his name on his police uniform. When questioned by a civilian, Officer Hargraves refused to respond. The civilian then spoke with Lt. Clifford Wong, one of several nearby officers. Lt. Wong approached Officer Hargraves and silently removed the tape from the officer's uniform.

Internal Affairs Division learned of the events on November 4 and began an investigation."Deliberate concealment of a badge or name plate" is a Class I offense, the most serious classification. As a result, Officer Hargraves was ordered suspended for 30 days, but has remained on the job pending a disciplinary appeal. "Failure to report others who commit any Class I offense" is also a Class I Offense. Lt. Wong was demoted to the rank of Sergeant.[24]

In January 2012, a US District Court described the events as "the most serious level of misconduct" and noted that it is a crime for officers to conceal their names or badge numbers.[25][26] The District Court is considering further sanctions against the involved officers.

Additionally, the District Court has stripped the Oakland Police Department of some of its independence, with a potential eye towards placing the Oakland Police under the control of a federal receivership.[27]

Incident at UC Berkeley - Nov 9

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External videos
video icon Police response to Occupy Cal protesters, Nov 9
Main article: Occupy Cal

On November 9, 2011, students and professors at UC Berkeley participated in a series of "teach-outs" around campus, a noon rally and march. Approximately 1,500 demonstrators attended the days' events.[28] The march route included a Bank of America location adjacent to campus. Not long after demonstrators set up seven tents in front of Upper Sproul Plaza in the mid-afternoon, law enforcement officials from UC Berkeley Police, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office and other UC Police officers in riot gear arrived to remove the tents.[29][30] Protesters linked arms to form a human chain in front of the tents to prevent officers from dismantling the encampment. Police used 36-inch riot batons to "jab" and push back the protesters and to break the human chain.[28]

Video footage of the afternoon confrontation shows police using batons and dragging two protesters by the hair, one of whom was UC Berkeley English professor Celeste Langan.[31][32] 39 protesters, including Professor Langan, were arrested for charges including "resisting and delaying a police officer in the performance of their duties and failure to disperse when given a dispersal order."[33] Robert Hass, a UC Berkeley professor of poetry and former United States Poet Laureate, wrote about the police response in a November 19 New York Times opinion piece entitled "Poet-Bashing Police":

the deputies in the cordon surged forward and, using their clubs as battering rams, began to hammer at the bodies of the line of students. It was stunning to see. They swung hard into their chests and bellies. Particularly shocking to me — it must be a generational reaction — was that they assaulted both the young men and the young women with the same indiscriminate force. If the students turned away, they pounded their ribs. If they turned further away to escape, they hit them on their spines.[34]

Hass himself was hit in the ribs by a police officer wielding a baton. His wife Brenda Hillman was shoved to the ground by a police officer.[34]

Pepperspraying at Occupy Seattle - November 15

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Main article: Occupy Seattle
External videos
video icon "Pepper sprayed in the face by the police at #OccupySeattle"

On November 15, a march commenced from the Seattle Central Community College campus to Belltown. At one point during the march, a 17-year-old female swung a stick at an officer. After officers moved in to arrest the female the officers were hindered in their efforts, after issuing an order to disperse the officers deployed pepper spray to move subjects away from them so they could arrest the female suspect.[35] Police were filmed spraying the crowd of people with pepper spray. It was reported that the victims included "a 4-foot 10-inch, 84-year-old woman, a priest and a woman, Jennifer Fox, who claimed the pepper spray led to a miscarriage."[36] The 84-year-old woman, Dorli Rainey, is a former mayoral candidate and retired school teacher who has been active in City government on education and transportation issues since the 1960s. That night, Rainey was en route to City Hall to attend a scheduled meeting of the Seattle City Council's Transportation Committee.[37] Rainey had served on the school board, and in the 1970s ran for a seat on King County Council. In 2009, Rainey, then 82 years old, made a brief run for Seattle Mayor before withdrawing from the race citing her age: "I am old and should learn to be old, stay home, watch TV and sit still." However, regarding the possible miscarriage by Jennifer Fox, doubts have been cast on the truth of her claim.[38][39]

Dorli Rainey was notably photographed Archived February 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine as she was being carried away by friends after having been hit with the police's chemical spray.[40]

Pepperspraying at Occupy UC Davis - November 18

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Main article: Occupy UC Davis
External media
Images
image icon Brian Nguyen's flickr set (The California Aggie)
Video
video icon Cops Pepper Spray Passive Protesters (Associated Press)

On November 18, UC Davis Police arrived wearing riot gear at 3:30 pm and began removing tents and arresting demonstrators obstructing the removal of tents. A group of demonstrators staged a sit-in on the walkway in the quad, linking arms together and refusing to move.[41] Students began surrounding campus police officers and demanded release of the detained protesters in return for letting the officers leave.[42] Campus police officers asked the demonstrators to move several times, but the students refused.[43]

Sometime around 4:00 pm, two officers began spraying pepper spray directly in the faces of the sitting students.[44] Bystanders recorded the incident with cell phone cameras, while members of the crowd chanted "Shame on you" and "Let them go" at the police officers.[45] Eleven protesters received medical treatment; two were hospitalized.[46][47][48]

According to university officials, the officers felt like they were surrounded by the demonstrators. One of the officers who used pepper spray on the students was identified as Lieutenant John Pike.[49] Ten arrests were made.[50] Arrestees were "cited and released on misdemeanor charges of unlawful assembly and failure to disperse". Police began to leave the area around 4:10 pm as more students began to arrive.[51]

Lieutenant John Pike and another unnamed UC Davis Police officer were placed on administrative leave shortly after the incident.[52] UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza was later placed on leave as well.[53]

Mass Arrest at Oakland - January 28

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On January 28, 2012, Oakland Police arrested over 400 people, including at least six journalists.[54][55] One of the imprisoned journalist emerged after 20 hours of imprisonment and reported witnessing police brutality and cruel treatment.[56] charges were dropped for virtually all of the 400 arrested individuals.[57]

The National Lawyers Guild of Northern California alleges a number of human rights abuses, including hundreds of unlawful arrests, physical assaults. The guild claims that many imprisoned protestors were being denied counsel or being denied medical care or medications.[58]

Stun gun use at Occupy DC - January 30

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Main article: Occupy D.C.
External videos
video icon "Police tase innocent protester"

On January 30, US Park Police were filmed using a stun gun several times during an arrest at Occupy DC. The man had been arrested for removing eviction notices, and tazed after resisting arrest.[citation needed]

Police Raid at Occupy Buffer Zone in Cyprus - April 6, 2012

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External videos
video icon Police attacking crowd outside Occupy Buffer Zone, April 6
Main article: Occupy Buffer Zone

On April 6, 2012, strong police force from the Republic of Cyprus gathered in the area occupied by the activists and raided the occupied buildings at around 10:15pm. The operation included the anti-terrorist department and the anti-drug department of the police force.[59] Policemen, equipped with guns, helmets and batons smashed the door and entered the building.[60] A sequence of screaming and sounds of smashing and breaking followed.[61] The police reported that it made 28 arrests, including 11 minors and that it had confiscated 1 gram of cannabis.[61]

The police was reported to have used excessive and unjustified violence in the operation.[59] Eyewitnesses reported that the police repeatedly hit a 24-year-old woman, "causing a massive bump to her forehead, as well as multiple cuts and bruises".[59] Reports were also made of sexual assault on a 19-year-old woman,[59] the beating of two activists that were arrested in the building,<ref name="cyprus-mail.com"> and for unjustified violence on the crowd of activists and passers by that had gathered outside the building.[59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Naomi Wolf (December 29, 2012). "Revealed: how the FBI coordinated the crackdown on Occupy". The Guardian. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  2. ^ Hines, Alice (December 23, 2012). "FBI Investigated 'Occupy' As Possible 'Terrorism' Threat, Internal Documents Show". blogpost. Huffington Post. Retrieved December 26, 2012. In certain documents, divisions of the FBI refer to the Occupy Wall Street protests as a "criminal activity" or even "domestic terrorism."
  3. ^ "Surveillance of Occupy groups (PDF)" (PDF).
  4. ^ Schmidt, Michael S.; Moynihan, Colin (December 24, 2012). "F.B.I. Counterterrorism Agents Monitored Occupy Movement, Records Show". The New York Times. Retrieved December 26, 2012. Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, the F.B.I. has come under criticism for deploying counterterrorism agents to conduct surveillance and gather intelligence on organizations active in environmental, animal-cruelty and poverty issues.
  5. ^ Smith, Candice. "Occupy Wall Street Movement Reports 80 Arrested Today in Protests". abc. Retrieved September 25, 2011.
  6. ^ Christina Boyle and John Doyle (September 29, 2011). "Pepper-spray videos spark furor as NYPD launches probe of Wall Street protest incidents". The Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on October 10, 2011. Retrieved January 8, 2012.
  7. ^ Oh, Inae (October 26, 2011). "Pepper-Spray Cop Is Punished, Sort Of". Huffington Post.
  8. ^ Nate Silver (October 7, 2011). "Police Clashes Spur Coverage of Wall Street Protests". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  9. ^ Clyde Haberman (October 10, 2011). "A New Generation of Dissenters". The New York Times. Retrieved October 11, 2011.
  10. ^ Overtime, Solidarity and Complaints in Wall St. Protests. New York Times. October 13, 2011.
  11. ^ "Occupy Oakland video: Riot police fire tear gas, flashbang grenades". Russia Today. October 25, 2011. Retrieved October 26, 2011.
  12. ^ "Occupy Oakland video: Interview with Scott Olsen About His Injury from the Police Attack on October 25th, 2011". Dave Id Indybay.org. November 27, 2011. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  13. ^ Henderson, Peter; Randewich, Noel (October 29, 2011). "Oakland protesters plan march, mayor apologizes". Reuters. Retrieved October 29, 2011. Olsen, 24, [ ... ], was struck in the head by a tear gas canister fired on Tuesday by police, protest organizers said.
  14. ^ Flock, Elizabeth (October 27, 2011). "Iraq veteran Scott Olsen now in 'fair' condition". blogPOST. Washington Post. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  15. ^ Gabbatt, Adam (October 26, 2011). "Scott Olsen injuries prompt review as Occupy Oakland protests continue". The Guardian. United Kingdom. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  16. ^ "Iraq war vet injured during Oakland protests". Boston.com. October 26, 2011.[dead link‍]
  17. ^ Adam Gabbatt (October 26, 2011). "Occupy Oakland: Iraq war veteran in critical condition after police clashes". The Guardian. London. Retrieved October 29, 2011.
  18. ^ Gabbatt, Adam (November 1, 2011). "Occupy Oakland: police to be investigated over Scott Olsen injury". The Guardian. London.
  19. ^ Bender, Kristen (October 26, 2011). "Occupy Oakland protesters return downtown to claim Frank Ogawa Plaza". Oakland Tribune. Retrieved October 27, 2011.
  20. ^ "Experts: "Occupy" video shows excessive force".
  21. ^ a b Gabbatt, Adam (November 18, 2011). "Occupy Oakland: footage shows police beating 'peaceful' Iraq war veteran". The Guardian. London. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  22. ^ Randewich, Noel (November 4, 2011). "Army veteran injured in Oakland clashes with police". Reuters. Retrieved November 6, 2011.
  23. ^ Daetz, Ama (November 3, 2011). "Journalist arrested while covering Oakland protest". KGO-TV. Archived from the original on December 4, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  24. ^ Lee, Henry K. "Oakland cops disciplined for name-covering episode".
  25. ^ Egelko, Bob. "Judge rules covered police badge serious violation".
  26. ^ Ruling of January 27, 2012: "Hargraves also violated California Penal Code section 830.10, which provides that "[a]ny uniformed peace officer shall wear a badge, nameplate, or other device which bears clearly on its face the identification number or name of the officer" "
  27. ^ See below, also Allen v. City of Oakland.
  28. ^ a b Hollyfield, Amy (November 10, 2011). "Occupy Cal calm, but ready for showdown". KGO-TV. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  29. ^ Asimov, Nanette (November 11, 2011). "Occupy Cal protesters vote to strike on Tuesday". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  30. ^ Asimov, Nanette (November 10, 2011). "UC campus police move in on student protesters". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  31. ^ Gollan, Jennifer (November 11, 2011). "UC Berkeley Pledges to Investigate Police Response to Occupy Cal Protest". The Bay Citizen. Archived from the original on November 13, 2011. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  32. ^ Jennifer Gollan (November 14, 2011). "UC Berkeley Investigating Police Tactics". The Bay Citizen. Archived from the original on November 18, 2011. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  33. ^ Bowe, Rebecca (November 10, 2011). "Occupy Cal makes its dramatic entrance". San Francisco Bay Guardian. Retrieved November 13, 2011.
  34. ^ a b Hass, Robert (November 19, 2011). "Poet-Bashing Police". The New York Times. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  35. ^ Kappel, Detective Jeff (November 16, 2011). "Demonstration downtown, six arrested". SPD Blotter.
  36. ^ "Huffington Post November 16th 2011"
  37. ^ "The Stranger Slog November 15th 2011"
  38. ^ "The Seattle Times | Local news, sports, business, politics, entertainment, travel, restaurants and opinion for Seattle and the Pacific Northwest". www.seattletimes.com.
  39. ^ "Stranger Slog "November 22nd 2011"". Archived from the original on March 29, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  40. ^ ""The Atlantic Wire November 2011"". Archived from the original on February 28, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  41. ^ Memmott, M. (November 21, 2011). UC Davis Pepper-Spraying: Police Chief Put On Leave, Chancellor Speaks. National Public Radio.
  42. ^ Castle, Adam (December 12, 2011). "What Really Happened At The "Occupy" UC Davis Confrontation". Pipeline News. Retrieved December 12, 2011.
  43. ^ Burr, E. (November 30, 2011). Los Altos native pepper-sprayed at UC Davis protests. Los Altos Town Crier.
  44. ^ "California university launches inquiry into pepper spray of protesters". CNN. November 21, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2011.
  45. ^ CBS Sacramento. (November 18, 2011). Police Defend Use Of Force On ‘Occupy UC Davis’. CBS.
  46. ^ "UCD to review pepper-spraying, clearing of protesters". Davis Enterprise. Retrieved November 19, 2011.
  47. ^ Kent, Julie (November 19, 2011). "UC Davis Police Brutally Pepper Spray OWS Protesters Sitting Peacefully on Campus". The Cleveland Leader. Archived from the original on November 22, 2011. Retrieved November 21, 2011.
  48. ^ Guy Adams, Outcry over 'chilling' campus pepper spray use, The Independent, November 20, 2011
  49. ^ "Video: In Pepper Spray Aftermath UC Davis Professor Demands Chancellor's Resignation - Huliq". huliq.com. November 22, 2011.
  50. ^ "UC Davis pepper spray incident goes viral" – via Christian Science Monitor.
  51. ^ CBS Sacramento. (November 18, 2011). ‘Occupy UC Davis’ Protesters Vow To Stay Despite Police Raid. CBS.
  52. ^ Wells, Matt (November 20, 2011). "UC Davis police placed on leave after pepper spray video outrage". The Guardian. London. Retrieved November 22, 2011.
  53. ^ "UC Davis police chief put on leave as tensions continue to rise after pepper spray incident".
  54. ^ Washington Post - OCCUPY OAKLAND: After 2nd arrest, comics journalist Susie Cagle shares her on-the-ground experience
  55. ^ Aronsen, Gavin (January 29, 2012). "Journalists—Myself Included—Swept Up in Mass Arrest at Occupy Oakland". Mother Jones. Retrieved January 31, 2012.
  56. ^ Yael Chanoff - Occupy Oakland inmates at Santa Rita attacked- developing story
  57. ^ SFist - Charges dropped against all but a dozen Occupy Oakland folks Archived February 3, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
  58. ^ National Lawyers Guild of San Francisco Police Violence Targets Occupy Oakland Demonstration Archived March 28, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  59. ^ a b c d e "Tensions high after police raid - Cyprus Mail". Archived from the original on April 9, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
  60. ^ "Σκηνες ντροπης στο οδοφραγμα" [Scenes of shame at the barricade] (in Hebrew). Archived from the original on September 24, 2015.
  61. ^ a b "Police raid on peace movement nets one gramme of cannabis - Cyprus Mail". Archived from the original on June 11, 2012. Retrieved May 9, 2012.
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