(Image source: NY Daily News)

BY BRICE SANDER

You're watching multisource video news analysis from Newsy. 

Cops resort to what some are calling excessive force as the Occupy Wall Street protests move into their second week.

New York’s WABC sets the scene after police arrested more than 80 people this weekend.

REPORTER: “Police corralled the demonstrators with orange netting and arrested those who would not disperse. Many of the activists say the police were overly aggressive and arrested people without cause.”
ACTIVIST: “I saw tear gas, um, pepper spray. Uh, you know, I saw them take a women by the neck and throw her onto the concrete.”

In fact the protest group posted on its website NO tear gas was used -- but the pepper spray isn’t being disputed.

It was that so-called excessive force that brought the issue to national media attention. Protestors posted this video online, showing police pepper-spraying demonstrators videotaping the action from behind the barriers.

Newser reports the women were also heckling police, chanting “shame” at officers. And Gothamist provides some insight into why that might have motivated police to act.

“A former NYPD officer and security expert says that mace is used as ‘a deterrent against danger. When you feel your safety or someone else's safety is in danger that's a deterrent and that may be what happened.’”

And HLN’s Morning Express defends the police action further, while also sticking up for the protestors.

“Of course, there were claims they didn't have the right permits and everything. Now, the demonstrators believe that banks have too much power. Many self-describe themselves as kids who are out of school who cannot find jobs after they paid for college. I’ll tell you this, Robin, The Wall Street Journal had kind of a snide comment, which was- ‘Hey, guys- do you know that all the big banks have actually moved uptown. Maybe you should protest there.’”

A blogger at the conservative blog American Thinker agrees with The Wall Street Journal, suggesting these protesters need to get a clue.

“…Wall Street is not the place you should be protesting. Try the White House where your former hero is in bed with Wall Street capitalists, Silicon Valley hot shots, and big labor honchos.”

But an America Blog writer defends the demonstrators, arguing this is America, people.

“Maintaining civil order is critical so it's probably best that the police arrest those who raise questions about the multi-trillion dollar fleecing of America … I keep forgetting that civil disobedience is anti-American and is completely against democracy. Silly me.”

On Sunday the group posted new guidelines on its website -- reminding protesters NOT to “instigate cops or pedestrians with physical violence.” 


Transcript by Newsy.