(Image Source: The Davis Enterprise)

BY LAUREN ZIMA

The Occupy movement is making headlines again. Footage of University of California-Davis students getting pepper-sprayed at a sit-in protest is making waves.

The footage shows students sitting on campus on Friday as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement. Then, UC Davis Police Lieutenant John Pike sprays them with pepper spray repeatedly. The students had set up tents on the open campus, but had been warned earlier in the day to remove their tents or face police involvement.

At least one person was hospitalized with chemical burns. Soon after, Assistant Professor Nathan Brown posted an open letter providing details of the aftermath, and demanding Chancellor Linda Katehi’s resignation because she ordered the police to the scene. Brown writes:

“When students covered their eyes with their clothing, police forced open their mouths and pepper-sprayed down their throats. … One of them, forty-five minutes after being pepper-sprayed … was still coughing up blood. … I write to you … to demand your immediate resignation.”

But campus police chief Annette Spicuzza told The Sacramento Bee the officers were being threatened, saying:

“[The protesters] were cutting the officers off from their support. It's a very volatile situation."
 

Still, America Blog says that, based on the video, the police action was not justified.

“The cops had to use the pepper spray to escape? That's not true. They didn't shoot it at the perimeter, where they would shoot it if they were trying to escape - they shot it at a dozen kids sitting on the ground in front of them. … they weren't in fear for their lives.”

And Gawker says the pepper spray was not only unjustified, but disturbing.

“The worst part of this video … is how casual the cop is: like a gardener using pesticide.”

Ultimately, 10 students were arrested at the protest. Chancellor Katehi has now launched an investigation, calling the video “chilling,” and saying she is forming a task force to examine the events.