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Dear Chancellor Drake, Executive Vice Chancellor Gottfredson, and Vice Chancellors,
As members of the UC community, we are shocked, outraged, and deeply saddened by the disturbing events that occurred on Friday 18th at our sister campus at Davis.
As you may know, on Friday UC Davis Chancellor Katehi ordered the campus police to remove tents that the students had erected in protest because they violated university policies. In doing so, UCD police officers engaged in a clear case of police brutality. We understand that it is a chancellor's duty to take action when school policies are violated and that such action may sometimes require difficult tradeoffs. We also understand that it is the job of campus police to assist administration officials in enforcing such policies.
However, we decry Mrs. Katehi's decision to send the campus police against peaceful protesters, and her statements and (in)actions following the incident. Her behavior, and that of UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza, show unacceptably poor leadership and misplaced priorities.
In particular, we question the chancellor’s 1) decision to send police force against peaceful protesters of tuitions and fee increases, 2) failure to promptly condemn the brutal actions of UCD police and 3) poor management of her staff in addressing the media. We expand on these points below.
We ask that you join us in publicly, and personally, condemning the incident.
We also ask that you join our call for the resignation of the UCD Chief of Police, who was present during the incident, and later told the Davis Enterprise that her officers “did a great job.”
Finally, we ask that you call for a disciplinary review of Chancellor Katehi’s (in)actions that preceded and followed the incident to determine if her decisions and leadership reflected the priorities, prudence, and commitment to the ideals and mission of UC that we expect from a Chancellor of the UC.
Sincerely,
Members of the UC Irvine Community
------ What we are concerned with:
Chancellor Katehi appears to have been more concerned with the potential safety of erected tents than the potential safety of sending police force against student protesters.
Given recent violent clashes between the police and students on other UC campuses, a prudent and wise leader -- one who is genuinely concerned with student safety and who strives to uphold our sacred ideal of freedom of speech and expression -- would have thought carefully and taken precaution (e.g. a briefing with the Chief of Police on the use of chemicals or batons), to ensure that the UCD police raid does not involve excessive force and/or result in injuries to students.
To that end, her concern with violations of university policies appear selective, as the actions of some UCD police officers clearly violated the Universitywide Police Policies And Administrative Procedures, sections 812, 813.1 and 902.3, which limit the use of pepper spray and violent force:
812. Chemical agents are weapons used to minimize the potential for injury to officers, offenders, or other persons. They should be used only in situations where such force reasonably appears justified and necessary.
813.1 The baton is authorized for use when, based upon the circumstances perceived by the officer, such force reasonably appears justified and necessary to result in the safe control of the suspect.
902.3 Arrestees and suspects […] shall not be subject to physical force except as required to subdue violence or ensure detention. No officer shall strike an arrestee or suspect except in self-defense, to prevent an escape, or to prevent injury to another person.
As evidenced by widely-distributed videos of the incident, the behavior of the protesters hardly qualifies as violent resistance.
Shockingly, the Davis Enterprise reports that Mrs. Annette Spicuzza, the UCD Police Chief who was present during the incident, said that the police were trapped by the protesters and acted out of fear for their own safety (a sentiment echoed by Mrs. Katehi). Mrs. Spicuzza added that she was “very proud” of her officers and that “they did a great job”. It is clear why we ask for her immediate resignation.
Similarlty, the Huffington Post reports that Claudia Morain, a UC Davis' spokesperson:
"said that the officers were essentially trapped and had to transport several of the arrested students. 'The pepper spray was used because they needed to get out of there,' she said" […] Morain admitted that she had not thoroughly studied the videos of the incident."
To the contrary, the officer spraying the protesters can be seen to move freely behind and in front of the circle of students and is not clear how they were truly blocking officers’ way or trapping them. As stated by eye witnesses, the students sitting down with interlocked hands was a symbolic rather than an actual barrier to officers’ movements, and as a symbolic gesture it was protected under the First Amendment.
That some university officials are giving statements to major media outlets without having reviewed widely available evidence, while others clearly misrepresent the events and justify the officers’ actions as something to be “proud” of is embarrassing and underscore Mrs. Katehi's poor leadership, management, and choice of her staff.
In a message to the UCD campus community, Mrs. Katehi is clearly aware of said videos, yet fails to express outrage at the actions of the police, or vow disciplinary actions against the pepper-spray-wielding officer or the UCD Police Chief. (She has since issued stronger words of condemnation, yet this comes after a petition for her resignation has collected over 15,000 signatures, thus we question her intent.)
When you see videos of campus police holding peaceful students down so they can be pepper sprayed in the face, instead of just above their heads, moral outrage comes quickly, automatically, irrevocably to those whose priorities are set straight.
Condemn the use of brutal force against protesters at UC Davis
Greetings,
I just signed the following petition addressed to: UC Irvine Administration.
----------------
Condemn the use of brutal force against protesters at UC Davis
Dear Chancellor Drake, Executive Vice Chancellor Gottfredson, and Vice Chancellors,
As members of the UC community, we are shocked, outraged, and deeply saddened by the disturbing events that occurred on Friday 18th at our sister campus at Davis.
As you may know, on Friday UC Davis Chancellor Katehi ordered the campus police to remove tents that the students had erected in protest because they violated university policies. In doing so, UCD police officers engaged in a clear case of police brutality. We understand that it is a chancellor's duty to take action when school policies are violated and that such action may sometimes require difficult tradeoffs. We also understand that it is the job of campus police to assist administration officials in enforcing such policies.
However, we decry Mrs. Katehi's decision to send the campus police against peaceful protesters, and her statements and (in)actions following the incident. Her behavior, and that of UC Davis Police Chief Annette Spicuzza, show unacceptably poor leadership and misplaced priorities.
In particular, we question the chancellor’s 1) decision to send police force against peaceful protesters of tuitions and fee increases, 2) failure to promptly condemn the brutal actions of UCD police and 3) poor management of her staff in addressing the media. We expand on these points below.
We ask that you join us in publicly, and personally, condemning the incident.
We also ask that you join our call for the resignation of the UCD Chief of Police, who was present during the incident, and later told the Davis Enterprise that her officers “did a great job.”
Finally, we ask that you call for a disciplinary review of Chancellor Katehi’s (in)actions that preceded and followed the incident to determine if her decisions and leadership reflected the priorities, prudence, and commitment to the ideals and mission of UC that we expect from a Chancellor of the UC.
Sincerely,
Members of the UC Irvine Community
------ What we are concerned with:
Chancellor Katehi appears to have been more concerned with the potential safety of erected tents than the potential safety of sending police force against student protesters.
Given recent violent clashes between the police and students on other UC campuses, a prudent and wise leader -- one who is genuinely concerned with student safety and who strives to uphold our sacred ideal of freedom of speech and expression -- would have thought carefully and taken precaution (e.g. a briefing with the Chief of Policy on the use of chemicals or batons), to ensure that the UCD police raid does not involve excessive force and/or result in injuries to students.
To that end, her concern with violations of university policies appear selective, as the actions of some UCD police officers clearly violated the Universitywide Police Policies And Administrative Procedures, sections 812, 813.1 and 902.3, which limit the use of pepper spray and violent force:
812. Chemical agents are weapons used to minimize the potential for injury to officers, offenders, or other persons. They should be used only in situations where such force reasonably appears justified and necessary.
813.1 The baton is authorized for use when, based upon the circumstances perceived by the officer, such force reasonably appears justified and necessary to result in the safe control of the suspect.
902.3 Arrestees and suspects […] shall not be subject to physical force except as required to subdue violence or ensure detention. No officer shall strike an arrestee or suspect except in self-defense, to prevent an escape, or to prevent injury to another person.
As evidenced by widely-distributed videos of the incident, the behavior of the protesters hardly qualifies as violent resistance.
Shockingly, the Davis Enterprise reports that Mrs. Annette Spicuzza, the UCD Police Chief who was present during the incident, said that the police were trapped by the protesters and acted out of fear for their own safety (a sentiment echoed by Mrs. Katehi). Mrs. Spicuzza added that she was “very proud” of her officers and that “they did a great job”. It is clear why we ask for her immediate resignation.
Similarlty, the Huffington Post reports that Claudia Morain, a UC Davis' spokesperson:
"said that the officers were essentially trapped and had to transport several of the arrested students. 'The pepper spray was used because they needed to get out of there,' she said" […] Morain admitted that she had not thoroughly studied the videos of the incident."
To the contrary, the officer spraying the protesters can be seen to move freely behind and in front of the circle of students and is not clear how they were truly blocking officers’ way or trapping them. As stated by eye witnesses, the students sitting down with interlocked hands was a symbolic rather than an actual barrier to officers’ movements, and as a symbolic gesture it was protected under the First Amendment.
That some university officials are giving statements to major media outlets without having reviewed widely available evidence, while others clearly misrepresent the events and justify the officers’ actions as something to be “proud” of is embarrassing and underscore Mrs. Katehi's poor leadership, management, and choice of her staff.
In a message to the UCD campus community, Mrs. Katehi is clearly aware of said videos, yet fails to express outrage at the actions of the police, or vow disciplinary actions against the pepper-spray-wielding officer or the UCD Police Chief. (She has since issued stronger words of condemnation, yet this comes after a petition for her resignation has collected over 15,000 signatures, thus we question her intent.)
When you see videos of campus police holding peaceful students down so they can be pepper sprayed in the face, instead of just above their heads, moral outrage comes quickly, automatically, irrevocably to those whose priorities are set straight.
----------------
Sincerely,
[Your name]