PGHIMC - Pittsburgh Independent Media Center

On police violence
by B Monday, Mar. 31, 2003 at 9:06 AM
wm654@bard.edu

My account of the march, police interactions, and my arrest.

Rather than reiterate the truthful accounts of the march that have already been posted, I’d like to share my thoughts as to why I was targeted for arrest. I was marching near the front, without a mask, primarily to watch out for the safety of the black bloc kids in the front. As we reached the intersection it quickly became clear to me that Officer Wood had extremely aggressive tendencies and was searching for any pretense to try his new toy out. After watching him exchange a slur of belligerent comments and subsequently unleash his OC on those in front when they clearly posed no threat to anyone, I continued to follow the officer from the sidewalk and tried to keep people away from him. As I walked I persisted in pointing at the Officer and yelling, “watch him,” and “criminal.” As we proceeded down the sidewalk the truth apparently became too much for the lumbering cretin and he charged at me with his OC. Haphazardly spraying into the crowd on the sidewalk he, along with several other officers, grabbed me, as members of the crowd tried to hold on. I was dragged by my neck into the street with another demonstrator clinging to my feet I was kicked at least once and had my shirt ripped from around my neck, while still blinded from the OC. I was then handcuffed and placed in a patrol car for at least 15 minutes. The officer originally ignored my requests for medical attention, even after the EMTs had arrived. Another officer, remembering that he was capable of being a decent human being, eventually took me from the patrol car and washed some of the agent out with saline solution. I was then returned to a squad car where we proceeded to the Swissvale police station.
While police violence and state repression will surely intensify as this movement grows (I’ve been in jail twice and the hospital once in the past week) remember that we stand for humanity and equality, which must and will overcome.

My thanks go out to all those at the march, those who tried to help me avoid arrest (thanks M), and all those who did jail solidarity (get in touch, I’ll buy yinz a root beer).

In Solidarity,
B

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