The disturbing video of students being brutally pepper sprayed at the University of California has resulted in police Chief Annette Spicuzza taking an administrative leave from campus.
STORY: GTFOH! Police Pepper Spray Peaceful College Protesters
Videos posted online showed one riot-gear officer dousing a line of protesters with pepper spray as they sit with their arms intertwined.
STORY: Occupy Oakland: Police Brutality Causes Second Iraq War Vet To Be Hospitalized
The president of the University of California, Mark G. Yudof, told the Associated Press that he was “appalled” at images of protesters being doused with pepper spray.
Yudof said:
“Free speech is part of the DNA of this university, and non-violent protest has long been central to our history. It is a value we must protect with vigilance.”
The school refused to identify the two officers who were placed on administrative leave, but one was a veteran of many years on the force and the other “fairly new” to the department.
Meanwhile, UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi said she has been inundated with reaction from alumni, students and faculty and would speed up an investigation that was to have taken three months.
We will continue to follow any further developments in this case.
