A little pepper spray in the face isn’t stopping the University of California Davis students from setting up shop and keeping the movement going.
STORY: Don’t Let The Door Hit Ya! UC Davis Bounces Police Chief After Pepper Spraying Students
Students at UC Davis have put up tents near the site where police used pepper spray on seated protesters in a conflict that sparked outrage and calls for the school chancellor’s resignation.
STORY: UC Davis Chancellor Linda Katehi Walk Of Shames It After Pepper Spray Incident
The encampment was erected Monday, hours after the campus police chief was put on administrative leave. Two officers also were placed on administrative leave after the students were sprayed.
Chancellor Linda Katehi made a brief appearance, facing students, faculty and community members chanting slogans and pressing for her to step down.
Katehi told the crowd:
“I’m here to apologize. I feel horrible for what happened Friday. If you think you don’t want to be students of the university we had on Friday, I’m just telling you, I don’t want to be the chancellor of the university we had on Friday.”
The UC Davis faculty association has called for Katehi to step down, saying there had been a “gross failure of leadership.”
Katehi said she plans to appoint a task force of students, staff and faculty to investigate the incident and report back to her within 30 days.
Last weekend, Police Lt. John Pike sprayed students who were blocking a UC Davis walkaway as part of the Occupy movement point blank in the face with pepper spray.
The images of this terrible act have sparked nationwide outrage.
