Why don't we start wearing goggles/surgical masks to protests.

[antigone382]

I was just reading this story in LBN:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=1212368&mesg_id=1212368

A peaceful student sit-in turned unruly at Manual High School, and school police used a chemical spray to disperse the crowd Thursday afternoon.

Duncan Pat Pritchett, the Indianapolis Public Schools superintendent, said it appeared officers overreacted by using the spray.

"Students do have First Amendment rights," he said.

About 100 students were in a hallway when police sprayed several bursts of the chemical in the air to disperse the crowd. No injuries were reported.

http://www.indystar.com/articles/2/219711-9452-103.html

...

So, we have pepper spray cannons used on protesters at the coronation. We have chemical spray used on protesting high school students in their own school. It's safe to say that things have gone too far; I know protesters sometimes do get out of hand--throwing rocks at the presidential motorcade is not a very intelligent idea. However, police reaction to these individual acts has become far too strong, and has caused unnecessary harm to completely innocent people.

How are we going to protest at all if we always have to worry that police are going to use one person's bad judgement as an excuse to attack us all? We have to do something to protect ourselves without breaking the law. I think we should start wearing swimming goggles, to protect our eyes, and surgical masks, to protect our nose, mouth, and upper respiratory tract, whenever we "peacefully assemble to petition the government for a redress of grievances." The use of these items may not prevent all the damaging effects of pepper spray, etc., but I think they would certainly downgrade their severity, even if they make us look a little silly.

[linazelle]

1. The right to peaceful assembly is a thing of the past....n/t

[antigone382]

2. which is why we need to take things into our own hands.

:)

[Name removed]

3. Deleted message

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[DrWeird]

4. They "outlawed" gas masks at WTO.

That is, the cheif of police (could have been the mayor) got on TV and said it was now outlawed for civilians to be wearing gas masks. Precisely for the reason that people were wearing them and the tear gas wasn't doing anything. Just makes the police beat you harder.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

5. gawd forbid a cop pulls a muscle beating the shit out of a protester.

[toymachines]

6. thats bullshit if i have ever heard it

isnt that like taking away our rights to security, self preservation. of course that isnt a new thing, is it.

[DrWeird]

7. Yes, it's bullshit.

Like they some how pushed a bill through state congress and got it signed by the governor in five hours.

[nascarblue]

8. My thoughts exactly... especially when this happens...