The Prevalence of Pepper Spray in Protests

2 minute read

Nothing disperses a crowd like a shot of chili pepper to the eye. Pepper spray—scientifically known as oleoresin capsicum spray—is banned in war but has made its presence known during the Occupy Wall Street protests as one of the most-used methods of crowd control. Its status as a less-than-lethal weapon gives police the right to use pepper spray as a tactic to tame rowdy protesters, but are they using it properly? A number of incidents have called attention to the liberal usage of the spray against protesters appearing both defenseless and peaceful. Indeed, a quick burst of orange is enough to bring even the hardiest protester to his or her knees: the active ingredient, capsaicin, inflames eyes, penetrates skin, and irritates mucous membranes. And the symptoms can last for days.

The use of pepper spray has proven to be harmful to more than just those hit with it. At the University of California, Davis on Nov. 18, police doused dozens of seated non-violent protesters with pepper spray. Numerous cameras in the crowd filmed the incident, inciting an online outrage. The UC Davis police chief has been put on administrative leave along with two officers seen in the video thoroughly pepper-spraying the protesters. An apology from the university’s chancellor has done little to quell the Internet’s fury. Images of the cop casually pepper-spraying protesters have gone viral, with the likeness of the lieutenant spliced into other historical situations, can of pepper spray in hand. All humor aside, the university is taking the situation seriously, launching an investigation into the police department’s use of the force. Here, TIME looks at the prevalence of pepper spray in other recent protests.

Nick Carbone is a reporter at TIME. Find him on Twitter at @nickcarbone.

November 18, 2011. University of California, Davis Police Lt. John Pike uses pepper spray to move Occupy UC Davis protesters while blocking their exit from the school's quad Friday in Davis, Calif. Two University of California, Davis police officers involved in pepper spraying seated protesters were placed on administrative leave November 20, 2011, as the chancellor of the school accelerates the investigation into the incident. Wayne Tilcock—The Enterprise/AP
November 17, 2011. A police officer deployed pepper spray in Pioneer Courthouse Square after a day of marching through downtown by Occupy Portland participants. People gathered on the east side of the Steel bridge earlier in the morning to demonstrate in support of the Occupy movement, on the day known as N17. Several people were arrested and the march continued over the lower span of the bridge into downtown, where a rally was planned. Later in the day people were arrested in a Wells Fargo branch downtown. Randy L. Rasmussen—The Oregonian / Polaris
November 15, 2011. Seattle activist Dorli Rainey, 84, reacts after being pepper sprayed by Seattle Police during an Occupy Seattle protest in downtown Seattle. Protesters gathered in the intersection of 5th Avenue and Pine Street after marching from their camp at Seattle Central Community College in support of Occupy Wall Street. Many refused to move from the intersection after being ordered by police. Police then began spraying pepper spray into the gathered crowd hitting dozens of people, some on the sidewalk. A pregnant woman was taken from the melee in an ambulance after being struck with spray. Joshua Trujillo—Seattlepi.com

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