I don't want to live on this planet anymore

[iironiic]

I'm speechless... that's all I'm going to say.

[xXAll-ProXx]

meh this kinda stuff happens on a daily basis in numerous countries and this guy is making it seem like the biggest catastrophic event in the history, although I completely agree that he's right.

But this is what happens in Iran once in a while so I'm not too surprised. (1 guy died, 2 critically injured)
(warning, this is quite disturbing)

btw, those people who got hit were from the government's opposition party . That's how you get rid of your opposition party, I guess.

[One Winged Angel]

I seriously can't handle the irony of that ambulance video, oh my

[LJRoX]

I completely agree with the police. We need authoritative power here in this world.

[Izzy]

It's hard to tell anything from that video but it doesn't look like anyone was seriously injured by the police. Maybe a few bruises from being handcuffed roughly...

What is the background story though? There is no way they were just "doing nothing" and then police came out of nowhere and arrested them for going about their daily lives.

Everyones comments in this thread make it seem like they were shooting people or something.

[Emithith]

Originally Posted by Zageron

I'm glad I don't live in USA, but some places in Canada are just as bad.

^this

but seriously. wtf is up with the police..
edit: actually that's pretty rhetorical lol

[hi19hi19]

Originally Posted by Izzy

It's hard to tell anything from that video but it doesn't look like anyone was seriously injured by the police. Maybe a few bruises from being handcuffed roughly...

What is the background story though? There is no way they were just "doing nothing" and then police came out of nowhere and arrested them for going about their daily lives.

Everyones comments in this thread make it seem like they were shooting people or something.

I really thought this too, that there was something not being said. Then I spent a few hours really looking into this situation as best as the internet could allow me (hardly conclusive, but I'd like to think I did a pretty good job), and I started to realize there was seriously NO provocation. That's the reason everyone's making such a big deal of this: there really was zero reason for the officer to do what he did. Everyone was well within their rights to protest, and the march was being carried out within the bounds of the law. Then the white-shirt came up and pepper sprayed a few women in the face at point blank range and walked away. There is nothing more to know.

The temporary blindness and the searing pain that accompanies having mace sprayed into your eyes and face is one thing, but I think the real damage is psychological. How can you trust the police if one of them deems it right to blind you merely for following the law and gets away with it without a hitch?

And btw, according to some personal testimonies, the people handcuffed lost feeling in their hands for a few hours after being stuffed into a bus used as a temporary holding facility. Losing sense of your extremities seems to me to be more than "a few bruises..."

[UserNameGoesHere]

Unfortunately this doesn't surprise me at all. I would almost expect something like this from time to time.

The best thing you can do is leave the area immediately. Don't stick around. Don't video tape. If you don't want to be assaulted. Unfortunately that means you do give up your rights to peacefully assemble and your right to video in public and some of your free speech rights.

[hi19hi19]

Originally Posted by UserNameGoesHere

Unfortunately this doesn't surprise me at all. I would almost expect something like this from time to time.

The best thing you can do is leave the area immediately. Don't stick around. Don't video tape. If you don't want to be assaulted. Unfortunately that means you do give up your rights to peacefully assemble and your right to video in public and some of your free speech rights.

And right here is the big issue. If the police are here to protect our safety, yet average citizens expect to get assaulted by the police from time to time then what is the point of the police?

[Izzy]

What are they protesting anyway?

[Ziergdsx18]

This is ridiculous....

[Sky Kitten]

I started crying after watching the first 2 minutes of that video.

That is just horrible...

[i love you]

This doesn't surprise me one bit. This kind of crap happens everyday around the world.

[DotKritic]

You think that's bad?

[ELRayford]

The protest in OP's post is still going on occupywallstreet!

MIC CHECK

[Emo_Saur_]

That shit's ****ed up.

[Shikari]

I have nothing to add. And if you think this is bad or something, you pretty much live in a crystal castle, protected by an army. You haven't seen anything. Anything.

[Patricoo]

Originally Posted by Izzy

What are they protesting anyway?

Ding ding ding! We have a winner!

These people are basically emulating an unfocused publicity stunt to highlight... idk... "business are bad" and things. They created a failing protest in front of Wall Street that, ironically, gained steam due to the coverage on how pathetic it was going. Now you have a group of people starting to unlawfully congregate long-term in front of the area and then are told to leave. They provoke and prod the officers and then start standing in the way. You can see people mindlessly gawking and others jeering policemen, some of whom likely are intentionally trying to get arrested like some sort of 1st world battle-scar because they know cameras are rolling.

I agree. I don't want to live on this planet anymore either, especially when the left-wing version of the tea party start causing unfocused protests and publicity stunts.

I'm sure everyone arrested is fine, will receive 3 full meals and get reduced sentences due to our overcrowding.

I mean come on... YOU'RE SLOW MOTIONING AND POINTING OUT PEPPER SPRAY!? Its PEPPER SPRAY. Holy crap. PEPPER. SPRAY. Sure its a bitch but its not gruesome. God forbid a police action is unjustified that can be cured with a few hours and some water.

[ELRayford]

Originally Posted by Shikari

I have nothing to add. And if you think this is bad or something, you pretty much live in a crystal castle, protected by an army. You haven't seen anything. Anything.

You are so right.

[hi19hi19]

Originally Posted by Shikari

I have nothing to add. And if you think this is bad or something, you pretty much live in a crystal castle, protected by an army. You haven't seen anything. Anything.

"Someone, somewhere has it worse" is generally a pretty weak argument, usually because it's totally unrelated to the problem at hand. I acknowledge that other people go through worse experience daily; that doesn't mean this assault isn't wrong.

Also, the biggest shock is just from the context: this happened in the heart of America's most well known city, with the police force that considers itself the best in the nation. Again, it's all a question of the context and the contrast between how people expect an officer of NYPD to handle themselves vs. what actually happened.