Video shows DNC protesters getting pepper sprayed

[oberliner]

A SEPTA Transit police officer who deployed his pepper spray through a fence at protesters during the Democratic National Convention in South Philadelphia this week was found to be justified in his actions, according to a SEPTA spokesman.

The incident, which was captured on video and uploaded to YouTube, begins with the SEPTA cop calmly deploying the pepper spray at protesters, one of whom attempts to shield his face with a homemade sign.

Among the people who were hit by the spray in the video was Anna Marie Stenberg, 69, a Bernie Sanders protester from California who immediately turns from the fence in pain and begins pouring a bottle of water in her eyes. Stenberg was later arrested for climbing the eight-foot security fence outside the DNC. She was federally charged with entering a restricted zone and held in custody for 20 hours.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/dncrime/Video-shows-DNC-protesters-getting-pepper-sprayed.html

[itsrobert]

1. Climbing the fence?

What purpose does that serve?

[oberliner]

6. There was a fence separating the protestors from the delegates

Several protestors tried to climb to the other side.

[BobbyDrake]

13. To what end? To attack them? Get in their faces and scream at them? Some other unhinged action?

It seems to me that the presence of the fence and the security provided by police was completely necessary given the dangerous actions of the protesters.

[oberliner]

20. Maybe there is an interview with one of them somewhere online

I'll see if I can find one.

[BobbyDrake]

25. Yes, do that. Please find an interview where one of the protesters explains what was supposed to

happen after they broke into a private location where they hadn't been invited. I for one would be very interested in hearing what the plan was for the second half of the crime.

[oberliner]

35. It looks like they did it to get arrested

From what I read, it was pretty orderly for the most part. They would climb one at a time and then the waiting police would arrest them. Maybe it's just a way of registering protest?

[JohnnyRingo]

43. It proves she's a 69 year old bad ass.

I'm 63 and if I tried that they wouldn't have to spray me. They could just watch bemusedly until I got tired and fell off. Call and order a new hip while they're at it.

I'm not even commenting on the nature of the protest, the thing that stood out to me was Spiderman's grandma.

[guillaumeb]

2. Too much free speech can be a bad thing?

Interesting that at many public events much of the venue is a "restricted zone" where average US citizens cannot enter.

[auntpurl]

5. It's not a public event

It's a private function put on by the DNC. They're not restricting access to a public park or a post office. You needed passes to enter. This is for the safety of the people there, some of whom are in danger for their lives every day just by virtue of who they are. Like our president, and Hillary.

[guillaumeb]

8. True, and a private venue.

My comment was partly in jest.

But perhaps the transit police overreacted slightly?

[auntpurl]

17. I don't know.

What we're not seeing in the video is the incident described in the article that happened BEFORE the SEPTA cops showed up, the Homeland Security guy and the other officer being grabbed through the fence and slammed against the gate. It depends on how much danger there was for other people to get hurt. We can't know because we don't see what happened for the HS guy to call in the transit cops.

[auntpurl]

3. Here's a pertinent part of that article

According to SEPTA spokesman Andrew Busch, the officer deployed the pepper spray because there was a Secret Service agent and a Homeland Security agent who were both grabbed through the fence by protesters and hit with the metal gate. Busch said federal authorities at that location sought out the assistance of SEPTA police to secure the gate. Prior to deploying the pepper spray, the officer received permission from his sergeant to do so, Busch said.

[oberliner]

7. Did you watch the video?

Because that sure does not look to be the case in the video.

[auntpurl]

11. They said they asked the SEPTA cops for help AFTER the incident of being grabbed

through the gate. So presumably the SEPTA cops weren't on the spot, the Homeland Security guys realised they needed backup, and they called the SEPTA cops in. If the protestors wouldn't let go of the gate so it could be secured against further officers being injured, then the cop was justified in using pepper spray, I think.

[oberliner]

16. Did you watch the video?

The officer begins spraying tear gas through a fence at peaceful protestors who are not grabbing the gate but are merely holding up signs.

[auntpurl]

19. No, I'm saying the incident they described happened BEFORE the video started.

The article clearly states they called the SEPTA cops in because they were having trouble controlling the protestors and the Homeland Security guy and the other officer had been grabbed through the fence and slammed against the gate.

So the sequence of events is:

1. Incident happens at gate

2. Officers call in backup SEPTA cops

3. Filming begins (or is edited to begin) when SEPTA cops arrive and cannot secure the gate (which was open, you can see the protestors trying to hold it open in the video), so in order to prevent other officers getting hurt, he uses his pepper spray, for which he asked permission from his commanding officer before using.

[oberliner]

21. Pepper spraying people standing peacefully prevents officers from getting hurt?

It would be one thing if these people were rushing the gate, or shaking the gate, or attempting to push through the gate.

But they are just standing there when the officer pulls out the pepper spray and shoots it at them.

[auntpurl]

24. They are holding it open, you can see that it's open in the video.

He needed them to back up so he could secure the gate. They wouldn't let go of the gate. There is no way he would have used pepper spray if he could have just calmly closed the gate. SEPTA cops wear body cameras; they know they are accountable for their actions.

[okasha]

44. They appear to be trying to force tbeir way in.

And when that doesn't work, the video does indeed show them shaking the gate.

Some BoBers wanted a repetition of 1968. Fortunately, they didn't get it.

[tallahasseedem]

4. This is Philly

We'll taze people out in the open during Phillies games.

[auntpurl]

9. We threw snowballs at SANTA. (Not me personally, obviously)

I seriously don't know where these people think they are.

http://973espn.com/so-why-did-eagles-fans-boo-and-throw-snowballs-at-santa-claus/

[geek tragedy]

10. I don't see anyone being grabbed through the gate before he used the pepper spray.

I'm skeptical of the explanation.

[oberliner]

12. Me neither

It seems almost entirely unprovoked in the video.

[geek tragedy]

15. only caveat is that we don't see more than 2-3 seconds before the pepper spraying.

so, there could be context we're missing.

but, doesn't look good for the cops.

[oberliner]

23. But these folks are just standing there

I'm not sure what additional context would justify its use in that moment captured on video.

[geek tragedy]

28. Can we tell if the gate is secure or if it's open?

If it's open and they're trying to close it and the protestors are physically accosting them when they try to do so, that's another story.

But, that's a hypothetical until we see the full video, and the body cam footage.

[oberliner]

30. I found another video with an additional 30 seconds before the pepper spraying

Posted it down thread.

[auntpurl]

22. The video starts right as the pepper spray is deployed

What we don't see is the incident that led to the SEPTA cops being called in - the slamming against the gate of the Homeland Security guy and the other officer. There's no context for the incident so it looks like police brutality, but there's no way a SEPTA cop asked his commanding officer for permission to deploy his pepper spray and then used it without a reason. These are well-trained officers. SEPTA cops are well-known in Philly for being good officers.

[oberliner]

27. Here's another video showing 30 seconds before the pepper spraying

[auntpurl]

32. You STILL can't see what's going on with the latch on that gate.

The cops were standing there, they weren't approaching the gate, there was a movement in the crowd, the police office stepped forward, spoke to his commanding officer, and deployed the pepper spray.

And we're STILL not seeing the incident with the slamming against the gate. You think they made it up out of whole cloth? No way. They are wearing body cameras. The police haven't released footage.

[oberliner]

36. OK

But based on the video, it really does not look like deploying pepper spray at those people at that time was justified.

[auntpurl]

39. If the bodycam footage is released and shows peaceful protestors being unjustifiably

attacked by the police, I will be the FIRST PERSON to apologise here and speak up against police brutality. I promise.

[oberliner]

42. Hopefully that footage will be released

I am certainly open to the possibility of more footage presenting a fuller picture of what happened and adjusting my opinion accordingly.

[geek tragedy]

33. doesn't look good for the cops. nt

[unitedwethrive]

14. Given all the protest this week, if that is the worst of it,

then things went quite well.

[guillaumeb]

18. The video shows a peaceful gathering.

Chanting, waving signs, and one person climbing onto the gate. No one appears to be hit by the gate. Definitely an overreaction. Perhaps the police were tired of being there.

[auntpurl]

26. Of course the video doesn't show the officers being hit by the gate

That would completely negate the purpose of the video.

For heaven's sakes. We are being manipulated to believe the police in Philly used deliberate brutality against peaceful protestors. That is rubbish.

[oberliner]

29. They are peacefully protesting when they are pepper sprayed for no reason

I posted a video that has an additional 30 seconds before the pepper spraying above.

[guillaumeb]

31. If the police have video that demonstrates the evil purposes of the demonstrators,

they have only to show the video.

It is that simple. On the other hand, if this is an overreaction, well, we have seen that all to often at demonstrations.

[auntpurl]

34. I would also like to see the police video. nt

[NCTraveler]

37. Would be interesting to see if there is more video.

When they ask you to back up a little, and instead you put your hands on the Secret Service, there will be consequences.

Here is the problem. It's a great protest tactic but you actually have to be protesting something recognizable and definable. Dear Ms. Stenberg, well done on getting them to react but you failed protesting 101. Lesson learned.

[oberliner]

38. I posted a longer video upthread

Shows an extra 30 seconds:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1251&pid=2324734

[NCTraveler]

40. Thank you for that.

Still doesn't show the events that are mentioned in the article. It does shoe people pushing and kicking the fence. Doesn't show the assault on the Secret Service agent. Be interesting to see if any of the body cam video is released.

Also doesn't highlight what they are protesting.

[Starry Messenger]

41. 69 and climbing fences?

I don't have the energy to watch and detangle this fracas, but I am impressed at the very spry elder and her athleticism.