Two of the officers involved are on administrative leave.

Are you kidding? Just allow the public's rights to be destroyed by a handful of law-breakers? Allow people like this to disrupt and impede lawful travel and commerce? Don't think so. And speaking personally, I'll say yes to your question. This blocked sidewalk would have made travel between those two points impossible for me.

 

The cops were called in to clear out the tent city that had been set up in the middle of campus. Those students sat down in the middle of that sidewalk when the cops came in to break apart their assembly. They were sent there to hassle people into stopping a protest, no other reason. Of course they plopped onto the ground in the middle of a sidewalk, it was the only thing their university administrators had left them with.

What does it mean to assemble peaceably? Why was this restriction against government action enshrined into the Constitution?

First of all, pepper spraying is not "evil!" :lol: It's a non-violent enforcement technique.

 

It's non-lethal... excuse me, the term they use now is "less-than-lethal" because it's killed people before. Whether or not it is an act of violence is certainly more subtle. It's certainly very uncomfortable for the person on the receiving end. Pepper spray causes significant eye irritation that makes it extremely difficult if not impossible to open them, makes breathing difficult, and coughing. It isn't a pleasant thing to have done to you and simply because it isn't physical force doesn't absolve peace officers of needing a good reason to use it. Causing intentional physical pain to another human being... I think St. Augustine would disagree with your assessment.

Two of the officers involved are on administrative leave.

That says all I need to know...:thumb::popcorn:

What does it mean to assemble peaceably? Why was this restriction against government action enshrined into the Constitution?

 

I am in no way a constitutional expert. But it seems to me that the goal of including it in the Constitution was to prevent tyranny.

 

Now, what it means to assemble peaceably, I would think that's subjective. I also suspect that like other Constitutional rights, often interpreted differently by different people.

If no one paid attention to them they would get bored and go home

What does it mean to assemble peaceably? Why was this restriction against government action enshrined into the Constitution?

 

The concept is to be able to assemble AND petition the government of grievances. So the government can not arbitrarily keep a lid on issues and dissent. But you have to petition the government for some sort of specific action - not just be an angry, non-cohesive, complaining mob with no real purpose.

Letter from Chancellor of UC Davis

 

 

Dear UC Davis Students:

 

I am writing to you today as one who deeply appreciates and defends robust and respectful dialogue as a fundamental tenet of our great academic institution and our Principles of Community.

 

I sympathize with the profound frustrations so many of you have expressed during the past few days. These are truly difficult times. The current economic conditions, state budget cuts and the financial burden of rising tuition present tremendous challenges for all of us. We join you in your desire to advocate for increased state support for our university so that we can continue to provide access to the excellent education that distinguishes us as one of our nation's leading public universities.

 

However, we also have a responsibility to our entire campus community, including the parents who have entrusted their students to us, to ensure that all can live, learn and work in a safe, secure environment without disruption. We take this responsibility seriously. We are accountable for what occurs on our campus. Campus policies generously support free speech, but do include limited time, place and manner regulations to protect health, safety and the ability of students, staff, and faculty to accomplish the University mission. If an unfortunate incident occurs as a result of violations of these limited regulations, we are all responsible.

 

We are aware that many of those involved in the recent demonstrations on campus are not members of the UC Davis community. This requires us to be even more vigilant about the safety of our students, faculty and staff. While we have appreciated the peaceful and respectful tone of the demonstrations to date, the current encampment raises serious health, safety and legal concerns, and the resources we require to supervise this encampment cannot be sustained, especially in these very tight economic times. Our resources must support our core mission to educate all of our students.

 

We appreciate the substantive dialogue you have begun here, and we want to offer you appropriate opportunities to express opinions, advance the discussion and offer solutions as part of the time-honored university tradition. We invite you to consider the topics you would like to present and we will work with you to sponsor a series of forums throughout our campus.

 

I must now ask that all tents be peacefully removed by 3:00 p.m. today in the interest of safety, respect for our campus environment and in accordance with our Principles of Community.

 

We look forward to a positive outcome today and to continued productive and peaceful discourse moving forward.

 

Sincerely,

 

Linda P.B. Katehi

 

Chancellor, UC Davis

I believe that letter was written before the incident and the protesters failed disband themselves which is why the police were called.

I am in no way a constitutional expert. But it seems to me that the goal of including it in the Constitution was to prevent tyranny.

 

Now, what it means to assemble peaceably, I would think that's subjective. I also suspect that like other Constitutional rights, often interpreted differently by different people.

 

How many ways can you interpret our Constiutional rights? Assemble peaceably, that seems self-explanatory. There comes a point in time when protesters must cause interuptions to everyday life to draw attention, and people are arrested. Understandable. Just do it peacefully. But it's not subjective...

The concept is to be able to assemble AND petition the government of grievances. So the government can not arbitrarily keep a lid on issues and dissent. But you have to petition the government for some sort of specific action - not just be an angry, non-cohesive, complaining mob with no real purpose.

 

:thumb:

It's non-lethal...it isn't a pleasant thing to have done to you. I think St. Augustine would disagree with your assessment.

I think he would agree completely...when presented in proper context.

Pepper Spraying peaceful protesters is unnecessary. Placing them in cuffs and removing them from the scene should certainly suffice in most situations.

Pepper Spraying peaceful protesters is unnecessary. Placing them in cuffs and removing them from the scene should certainly suffice in most situations.

 

Agreed. No one is saying that they have carte blance to the school grounds for protesting.