The pepper-spraying of passively resisting protesters at Occupy Tulsa is even more barbaric than we originally expected. No wonder Kieth Olberman says it’s the worst incident of police brutality so far.

Police methodically pepper-sprayed five people at point-blank range directly in the face. They were not resisting, they were not shouting, they were not throwing things, they were not attacking police officers, they were not a threat. They were simply engaging in passive resistance and declining to cooperate in their arrest for the heinous crime of sitting on the grass after hours and not moving 20 feet to the sidewalk.

Curfew violators are subject to a $55 fine.

As KJRH Tulas reports,

Jordan says, “the question has come up ‘Why did we use the OC spray?’ This is not tear gas canisters that we lobed in to a group of people. Only the people actively resisting and would not comply were exposed to OC.”

Watch the video that follows the news report. It’s appalling. Passive resistance is a time-honored tactic of protest. Every police force in the country should be trained in how to handle it: You pick up the protester by the arms and legs and take them to the paddy wagon. It’s no big deal.

You certainly don’t use pepper spray on passive protesters. Pepper spray is meant to incapacitate someone who is behaving violently, to neutralize them as a threat. There was no threat here. And what on earth is the point of incapacitating people who have refused an order to move? That’s just stupid on the face of it.

Although I don’t have access to the rules of engagement the Tulsa Police operate under, here’s what the Oakland Police Crowd Control and Crowd Management Policy says on the subject:

Persons who make it clear (e.g., by sitting down, locking arms) that they seek to be arrested shall be arrested and not subjected to other dispersal techniques, such as the use of batons or chemical agents.

The only reason for pepper-spraying someone in these conditions is to inflict summary judgement and punish them on the scene. And that is NOT how our system is supposed to operate.

UPDATE: Occupy Tulsa reports that many of the 75 uniforms present this morning may have been “contractors” – that is, mercenaries and/or hired security guards. These people would not have had the same training as peace officers, which might explain the eagerness to reach into the toy box.

If you live in Tulsa: The mayor told the occupation that “they have had no local calls in support of Occupy Tulsa”. His office number is: 918-596-2100.

Like what you just read? Like us on Facebook for more updates!

More on questionable police tactics:

More on Occupy Wall Street:



More resources: