By now millions have seen the photos, watched the videos, and heard the screams of terror coming from a pair of women who were subjected to an unprovoked violent attack with O.C. (aka Pepper) Spray on September 24th.
This is the only documented incident of actual and indisputable unilateral violence at the Wall Street Protests in New York City this past week. And it calls for action – immediate action – so as to protect all those persons currently on the streets, whether they be active in the protests, innocent by-standers, or the “men in blue” themselves – the patrolmen of the NYPD simply doing their jobs.
The videos have gone viral. Although news coverage has been minimal it has also tended to avoid the obvious – the attack itself. An attack, tantamount to an act of terror (if you’ve ever been maced or pepper-sprayed you will know how terrifying an experience it is – if not, listen to the screams of the women on the video … that is real terror displayed for the public to experience themselves), which clearly violated multiple laws as well as the NYPD policy on the use of force and the deployment of pepper spray.
While the official responses thus far have been predictable – stock replies stating that all uses of force have been “justified” (despite the obvious truth as seen on the videos); what has not be responded to is the indisputable aspect of the policy violations. The deployment of the O.C. spray was not followed by the requisite medical care and treatment as directed by the NYPD Patrol Guide.
This fact is of paramount importance; because immediate action is required to protect and defend others from similar abuse and potential injury during the ensuing days and weeks. And no amount of bureaucratic/official double-speak can eliminate the unequivocal nature of this aspect of the policy violations of that incident.
Below are still photographs mostly taken (with the exception of a few from photographer David [Please supply his last name or his user name] http://davidscameracraft.blogspot.com/...) from the videos themselves (two by myself from one angle – those from the other angle contributed by roseaura). These images – along with the several videos – are and must be submitted formally as evidence of violations of the law, infringements of the rights of the victims, and gross violation of Departmental policies by Deputy Inspector Anthony Bologna.
I believe it is necessary, and potentially fruitful to bring out the real disparities involved at the heart of this protest itself, to call for collective and coordinated
action to bring this issue to the forefront, to seek justice for the victims, to call for immediate disciplinary action for the perpetrators, and for the protection of the rights and the safety of all those currently on the streets today and in the next several days. Those include not only the protesters themselves – but as these videos provide indisputable evidence of the need – for the residents of and visitors to NYC and for the uniformed officers simply doing their jobs as ordered by their superiors.
I propose that serious consideration be given to a day to be designated for the purpose of focusing on this incident, calling for and coordinating multiple levels of complaints formally filed (to be monitored and followed up on), petitioning for the suspension pending disciplinary review of the superior officer involved, and demanding full and equal enforcement of the laws and NYPD policy to be immediately implemented and guaranteed at all levels of supervisory authority (in the Department as well as Municipal and State government levels … and perhaps the federal level (the reported fact that one of the women who were victims of this attack was deaf directly invokes the protections afforded by the Americans with Disabilities Act and should engage the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division).
These actions/demands should be made in addition to memoralizing the sacrifices of those involved – the women as well as the uniformed officers (in blue) who were just doing their job when they too fell victim to this unjustifiable attack.
This incident/event can and should exemplify the very issues at the heart of this protest movement. They should serve as a rallying cry for wider support for those on the street and the issues they are trying to bring to attention. This is a matter of enforcement, equal enforcement, of the law for the justice and safety of all citizens of this nation and all persons in general.
I hope this idea will be given significant thought. Please use this diary to both brainstorm as well as to try and consolidate the evidence we have gathered to date and to coordinate efforts to begin a complaints submission drive (nationally based). Give those who cannot be on the streets in NYC a way to become direct participants along with those who are sacrificing their time, and as this incident shows potentially their health and safety, to this cause.
I will begin by proposing some threads of topics – such as starting to put forth the information that I have been able to gather from other posts and posters.
Thank you for giving this diary your time and attention.
Charlie
See Extended Below for a Photo Diary that definitively and unequivocally documents the abuse, violence, and violation.
Proof that there was no provocation or purpose for the OC Spray action about to ensue.
Two "white shirt" officers (of superior rank to the rank-and-file officers in blue) approach a group of women penned in behind an orange plastic wall.
The white-shirted officer on the right - who clearly initiates an unprovoked OC attack on the caged women - has been identified as Deputy Inspector Anthony "Tony Baloney" Bologna.
As the two ranking officers approach the barricade Inspector Bologna begins to indiscriminately spray those trapped behind it.
Even unsuspecting officers in blue, merely holding the barricade and several reported to have been in friendly conversation with the penned women, are victimized by Bologna's unprovoked attack.
Inspector Bologna, from several feet away, then targets one particular woman (in the grey top) for his direct assault. She has done nothing as is clear from the prior photos.
The stream can be visibly seen aimed and targeting this young woman several feet away who is merely seeking to protect herself.
Inspector Bologna's attack is vicious and his demeanor is clearly displayed by his unexplainable facial expressions of violence while engaged in the assault.
After the first attack (on the women behind the barricade) he callously walks away - leaving them unattended. But he doesn't stop there. Retaining his weapon at the ready, rather than holstering it, Bologna walks a few yards down the street and engages in a second attack. Notice how indiscriminate it is as he begins to deploy the spray at his waste and directly hits, first, an officer in blue. He then angrily targets a citizen and afterwards turns his aim upon the cameraman (or woman - it is not currently known).
The terror inflicted upon the victims can be seen in their faces and heard in their screams.
The fact that Inspector Bologna is high ranking and well-connected should not serve to shield him from the consequences of his actions - it should ensure that swift and certain justice is brought about by significant disciplinary action (he should be suspended immediately and then fired upon investigation and due process). This will only come about with OUR immediate, coordinated, and strategic responsive action.