Protest in Oregon

[Jedi_Monk]

Assistant Chief Greg Clark, who was in charge of this operation, told WW that police first used the spray at Southwest 5th Avenue and Taylor Street in response to the crowd blocking the entry of several reinforcement units, with protesters even jumping onto the hood of a police car.

 

But according to multiple sources as well as media accounts, the hood-jumping incident did not occur until after the widespread use of red-pepper spray.

 

Denise Stone, a citizens' committee member for the city's Office of Independent Police Review office, and two IPR staff members were pepper-sprayed while standing off to the side, observing. The three have reportedly told IPR Director Richard Rosenthal that they saw no provocation by protesters for the mass spraying. Similarly, other non-protesters told WW the crowd had been festive and non-threatening.

 

Another point of controversy is the degree of warning given. Assistant Chief Clark maintained that each mass-spraying commenced only after the crowd was given three to five orders to disperse or risk arrest.

 

But at 5th and Taylor, numerous bystanders and non-protesters said they heard no warnings. "If there were any warnings, I did not hear them," says the IPR's Stone.

This is one of the best articles I've read about the protest. To read the whole thing, go here: http://www.wweek.com/flatfiles/News3109.lasso