Protesters Surround Building, Chancellor Stays Inside for Three Hours (UC-Davis Pepper Spray)

[Hissyspit]

Source: The Davis (CA) Enterprise

November 20, 2011 | Posted by Tom Sakash

Protesters surround building, chancellor stays inside for three hours

UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi remained inside Surge II for nearly three hours Saturday after hundreds of protesters surrounded the building, interrupting her news conference about the pepper-spraying of protesters by campus police the day before.

- snip -

Many of those who had gathered outside said they believed Katehi did not give the UCD community sufficient notice and that the choice of venue was unfair because it did not permit the general public inside.

“After what happened yesterday, everyone is really, really angry,” said Steve Cox, a UCD graduate student. “It’s kind of unfair for her to hold a press conference in a really small venue with very short notice to try to exclude the student body. We have just as much of a right to be there as anybody and she needs to answer to us.”

The protesters formed lines leading away from the building, leaving a pathway to permit the chancellor’s exit, but the chancellor did not leave immediately following the conference.

Read more: http://www.davisenterprise.com/local-news/ucd/protesters-surround-building-chancellor-stays-inside-for-three-hours/

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Protesters create a pathway for UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi to leave the Surge II building, but she chose not to use this option. Katehi remained in the building for three hours — after a news conference was cut short there. Finally, when protesters moved to the edge of the adjacent parking lot, she left the building without incident. Wayne Tilcock/Enterprise photo

[Solly Mack]

1. K&R

[Dover]

2. No mention of that deafening silence...

I wonder if the silence was part of the negotiated agreement by the Chancellor for her exit? Or was that the student's decision?
I remember the woman that was escorting her out say to a reporter who had broken the silence with his questions, that there had been
an agreement that her exit would be quiet and respectful (or something like that).

[Cirque du So-What]

4. I'd like to believe it was the students' decision

Their silence during her walk of shame is particularly poignant.

[yardwork]

18. Tweets and other student reports say that it was the students' decision to greet her with silence.

She also accused them of vandalizing her SUV, which did not happen.

[BlueToTheBone]

3. What a scummy coward. I hope she is removed

and not allowed to resign.

[stonecutter357]

5. get the money out of politics.

coward.

[Dutchmaster]

6. BETTER than she deserves.

[iamthebandfanman]

7. nevermind. :)

[and-justice-for-all]

8. These pushes need to keep happening too...

until we drive evil over the cliff.

[dixiegrrrrl]

9. The level of fear by the heads of power is obvious, and very interesting.

[DWinNJ]

10. I’m confused

From what I read I would interpret the chancellor’s position as being more in line with the students

From the NY Times

“The use of pepper spray as shown on the video is chilling to us all and raises many questions about how best to handle situations like this,” Ms. Katehi wrote. Her statement said that she was forming a task force and asking university officials to review existing policies about encampments like the one that was erected on the campus this week.

“While the university is trying to ensure the safety and health of all members of our community, we must ensure our strategies to gain compliance are fair and reasonable and do not lead to mistreatment,” Ms. Katehi wrote.

[Xtraneous]

11. If that's true what did she have to fear from a peaceful gathering of students?

Three hours? Sounds more like the same type of confusion the police are dealing with. A peaceful protest is an oxymoron to them.

[quakerboy]

12. No need for confusion.

The pertinent fact is that she was the one to call the police to this action, to authorize this use of force.

She caused this. Now she is backpedaling something fierce, realizing she made a mistake, with lame attempts at CYA. After she called in and authorized police action that caused police to spray pepper spray directly down the throats of nonviolent protestors, now she hopes and prays that she can "investigate" and the media and the people will not realize SHE is the one that caused this to happen to students under her protection.

[Fumesucker]

13. I bet it wasn't chilling to those who got sprayed..

That's the lamest corporate speak non-admission admission I've seen in weeks and weeks.

[aquart]

14. After the fact and after the outrage.

But thank you for your concern.

[rhett o rick]

16. Exactly, how in the world could she ever have guessed that removal of the protestors would beviolent

Either she knew it would get violent or she didnt know. She should be fired in either case. Does that help?

[robinlynne]

25. yes.

[yardwork]

19. Her recent statements came after previous statements in which she supported the police action.

As chancellor, she ordered the campus police to remove the students. When she learned of the pepper spray attacks on Friday she responded with a press release praising the police actions and blaming the students. When outrage over the photos and reports forced her to give another statement on Saturday it was slightly more apologetic but still blamed the students. Now she's in full cover her ass mode. Not impressed.

[robinlynne]

26. ahh. After the faculty demanded her resignation.

[AntiFascist]

15. K&R, I sense more fear....

the power of many angry people can be very intimidating.

[Locrian]

17. she still had the walk of shame later - check out this video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8775ZmNGFY8&


The discipline (of being completely silent) these protesters show is amazing. The utter silence is deafening.

[BeHereNow]

20. WOW- Marie Antoinette inspecting her cake eaters...

as she exits the palace.

Very powerful clip.
Amazing unity and dignity displayed by the students in
their collective silence, conveying more than words could ever hope to.

She should step down immediately.

BHN

[yardwork]

22. That's incredible. Please post as a separate OP.

[Locrian]

24. already posted in the videos

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=385x636359

[cui bono]

23. Wow! That was surreal! Those students were amazing.

I hope she feels terrible, even if it's for the wrong reason. But I hope she starts to "get" it.

[laureloak]

21. Go for all to resign! Abuse of power!

[burrowowl]

27. May she get booted

SHAME on her!