Police Officers Pepper Spray People on Science Hill

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

On January 12th, two University of California police officers used pepper spray to disperse about 15 people gathered below an occupied redwood tree on Science Hill at UC Santa Cruz. The officers got out of their car, which was parked in the parking lot, and then followed the people dressed in black and wearing bandannas across their faces. One of the officers proclaimed that the group was trespassing and then both officers began pepper spraying people in their faces.

No one was apprehended by the two officers and more police quickly arrived on the scene. Two bags, which appeared to contain food items, were left below the tree until an officer took them to the backseat of a police car. Several police cars rapidly drove away from Science Hill and may have been pursuing the group which they accused of assisting trespassers.

Shortly after the pepper spraying, three treesitters came down to the lower branches of the redwood and discussed some of their motivations with a group of inquisitive supporters. One the treesitters spoke of how he grew up in Santa Cruz and developed a deep passion for the trees at UCSC. Since being in the tree, he has come to more fully appreciate the relationship other animals have with the redwoods.

A student stood below the tree and told people in and below the tree that the reason he was there was because he received an email from UCSC telling him to avoid the treesit. The treesitters thanked their inquisitive supporters for the good conversation and encouraged people to stop by anytime with food or for conversation. A few final suggestions from a treesitter were that people should be more casual and come during the day in smaller groups when the police are not around.

For more information about the treesit on Science Hill against UCSC expansion and the increased police repression, see:

Eyewitness Report of Police Attacking Two People at UCSC
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/01/10/18471576.php

Winter Break at the UCSC Tree-sit
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/12/19/18467787.php

Santa Cruz Community Supports Tree-sitters
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/16/18461591.php

Standoff with Police as Activists Occupy Redwoods to Oppose UCSC Expansion
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2007/11/08/18458938.php

§Police Officers Approach

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

§Police Officers Use Thier Pepper Spray

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

§Close Up of a Stream of Pepper Spray

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

a close up from the photo above

§An Officer Continues Pepper Spraying

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

§Left Hand on Shoulder, Pepper Spray in Right Hand

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

a close up from the photo above

§Officer Holds Pepper Spray After Spraying People

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

§An Officer Holding Pepper Spray

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

§Holding Pepper Spray After Spraying People With It

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

§An Officer Takes Two Bags Left Below The Tree

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

§Two Bags and a Blanket Brought to a Police Car

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

§Provisions in the Backseat

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

§M. Larsom

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

* I think I read the name correctly, but I could be wrong.

§Comfort Bubble

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

A slightly humorous point of the day came when Officer Brian Hughes said to me, just before this photo was taken, "Bradley, I will arrest you if you get in my comfort bubble."

Of course this was only humorous because Officer Hughes quoted funny words from the eyewitness account posted on SC-IMC about his unjustified violence on the night of January 9th.

Eyewitness Report of Police Attacking Two People at UCSC
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2008/01/10/18471576.php

§Officer Tony Contreras Explains the Situation

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM

The guy on the left might have been involved with the security hired to keep watch on Science Hill, however Officer Tony Contreras was pointing out which trees were occupied.

§Police

by ~Bradley

Sat, Jan 12, 2008 11:56PM