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Subscribe to RSSUp to 30 people were pepper-sprayed Tuesday by police after students tried to storm a Santa Monica College trustee board meeting in protest over proposed higher course fees. KNBC-TV's Robert Kovacik reports.
Michael Yanow / Getty Images Contributor
Students protest outside the SMC Board of Trustees meeting at Santa Monica College on April 3, 2012 in Santa Monica, California.
Michael Yanow / Getty Images Contributor
Santa Monica College officer Sergeant Williams raises his baton to push back students who were trying to rush into the meeting.
Michael Yanow / Getty Images Contributor
Two women treat a child suffering from the effect of pepper spray outside the meeting.
Michael Yanow / Getty Images Contributor
Nnaemeka Alozie is hosed off after suffering the effects of pepper spray outside the meeting.
NBC News and msnbc.com staff report — Up to 30 people were pepper-sprayed by police after students tried to storm a Santa Monica College trustee board meeting in protest over proposed higher course fees.
A handful of protesters suffered minor injuries as campus police tried to prevent dozens of students chanting, "Let us in, let us in" and "No cuts, no fees, education should be free," from disrupting the meeting during a public comment period, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Capt. Judah Mitchell of the Santa Monica Fire Department told NBC News that up to 30 people had been sprayed, five of whom sought treatment for the effects of the spray and were transported to nearby hospitals. Read more.
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I go to Santa Monica College... For those of you interested, here is a video that I took of students protesting in the school board meeting following the pepper spraying incident by Santa Monica College police:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMd8o-ix8YQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMd8o-ix8YQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMd8o-ix8YQ
No one got shot this time.Violence breeds violence.The fear that violence creates some
respond with stronger violence.A answer?Jesus Christ said unconditional love.That has
not been tried on a all out effort by everyone.The key word ;everyone:
LMAO. Unconditional love won't make tuition stay the same at Santa Monica or anywhere else.
Here's a better answer: transfer to a different college. Declining enrollment will teach SMC.
If education is important to you, you will find a way to pay for it yourself,, too many students ( so -called) go to college at the state level and dont know or care what they will eventually do with their life so their time there is an extension of high school,, thats where their friends are, they sit about lazy and smoking ,texting,eating and gaining weight while the rest of us go to "WORK" to pay the taxes required for the institutions existence,,some of the teachers are worse yet, they cultivate the same attitude as the moronic 60s protesters their parents were,,YES! go to school! but have a plan and be willing to pay for it yourself! The vacation is OVER! ,,Why??,,because repeat generations of MOOCHES ran the state into the ground and where are they now??,,everyone of us knows someone who has a college loan and seems indifferent to ever pay it back,,maybe its because after all the work to graduate they learn its true value, "WALL ART". Usually owned by someone who knows more than the rest of us.
Welcome to the new generation of Americans. They believe that everything should be free. That is not the way the world works. Never has, never will.
I dont think protesting tuition hikes means they want anything for 'free'. And considering the amount of tax dollars that go to foreign aid and the military budget, the notion that we cant pay for education that makes America more competitive in the world market is easily the height of absurd, backwards, self-destructive and hypocritical priorities.
Yea! Act like 60's radicals block exits and have a taste of 'FREE' OC spray.
*
The woman who brought the child to the protest had to have known that a rush to the doors was going to end badly. Yet, she remained and you clearly see the adolescent getting her eyes washed to flush out pepper spray. Bringing a child, *to make a statement*, has it's risks and you, the viewer clearly see one. No doubt there is also P S in her lungs and nasal cavities.
At the least, this woman should be investigated for child endangerment ."Reasonable person" laws,and simple common sense make it hard to fathom what went through this lady's brain , but one thing seems assured:It wasn't much and it was mostly filler. Pity this child. It will not stop here for her. She is 'Mommy's Little Token' and it is only beginning. O W S awaits her, yet. A M F
Right. It's not the cops' fault for pepper spraying a child. Its the child's fault. Brilliant logic!
Don't be daft. It's the mother's fault for bringing a child to a protest.
This could have been so much more compelling with an actual photo of the police actually firing the pepper spray. Check out my photo blog of me being accosted by big foot while I am making Smore's in the forest. Yes I don't have a picture of big foot, but the demolished box of graham crackers is really convincing.
Are you saying pepper sprat wasnt used? Nothing happens without photographic evidence, even if confirmed my numerous news agencies and the police themselves? LOL. And since you werent on the moon when we landed there, I imagine you think that didnt happen too!
The typical overly liberal California students got exactly what they asked for.
Yes. That four year old girld got exactly what she deserved.
If everybody pepper-sprayed everybody else...this world would be a better place.
Welcome to the NEW WORLD ORDER. No child's behind left. And forget about HEALTH CARE or a JOB.
That's what YOU dumb brainwashed IDIOTS who sit and watch "DANCING WITH THE STARS" on TV DESERVE now for having GIVEN the entire country to ISRAEL.
Now you right wing stuffed shirt MORONS can go kiss Benny's PEE PEE and bow to him. Your MASSUH!
LOL whats Israel got to do with these retarded Students rioting,
Funny post indeed my man
Good for the law, these students everywhere believe they can protest
as fierce as they want. Leading into car burnings, police tauntings.
Property damages. Then they go back on campus and revel in the Rush
they got from the rampage. Lucky the law ony used pepper spray, I think
a jolt from a few tasers on their ass would slow them down in future protesting
endeavors. Any way, thats my take on these recent protests, including the occupy groups.
My hopes for the Law "May the force be with you"
Or is it Kemo Sabe Hi Ho Silver.
Wonder how many of the protesters were American or legal citizens??? Good for the police--liberal leaches don't deserve what tax payer money they have already received. Either work to get the money to pay for it or do without. Quit whining for me to pay your way through life. If you want the USA to be like Greece, go live there.
you are just dummer than bad dirt
Hahahahahahaa, they deserved it.
There is no such thing as free.........silly socialist.
It is not "FREE college", taxpayers fund it.
It is not "FREE health care",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,taxpayers fund it.
It is not "FREE housing",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,taxpayers fund it.
It is not "FREE food stamps",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,taxpayers fund it.
There is no "FREE school lunch program",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,taxpayers fund it.
There are not "FREE pre-school, Head Start or day care programs",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,taxpayers fund them.
No "FREE utilities",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,taxpayers fund those as well.
No "FREE cellphones for the poor",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,taxpayers fund those too.
All of the things you parasites think are "FREE" are actually paid for WITH MONEY TAKEN FROM THE POCKETS OF OTHER PEOPLE.
GOVERNMENTS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,INCLUDING OURS,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,DO NOT CREATE WEALTH OR CREATE MONEY(We hope democarts will someday understand this factoid),,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,THEY TAKE FROM THOSE WHO WORK AND GIVE TO UNEMPLOYED SCUMBAGS AND LOSERS IN THE FORM OF ENTITLEMENTS.
The reason your school costs so much is because they are giving OUR tax dollars to tens of millions of criminal invaders who came here illegally and are enjoying a "FREE" education as well. Those parasites do not have families who have ever paid a dime into the system. Thus, for every taxpayer in California,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,there are five leeches sucking out his blood.
Enjoy your "FREE" stuff,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,especially the "FREE" pepper spray.
You know that child is going to grow up disliking the police after such an event. If she doesn't, it'd be a miracle. Poor child.
Born well off were we?
Bringing a kid to a protest rally? That's either child abuse or criminal stupidity. Either way, the mother needs to spend some time in lockdown.
you idiots posting here can't figure out your arse from a hole in the ground, or are you all shills of the people trying to pass the increased fees in education.
I just can't believe these comments in favor of higher cost of education and the right to protest.
Obviously you have not educated yourselves or children lately. People are still paying off schooling at retirement age..comon get a clue.
Pepper spray by the robo-cops who the campus hires. Didn't we have enough of that with the last brain surgeon who pepper sprayed people protesting on campus.
I agree we need to stop free education for people who come here that are not citizens or illegals who really do not deserve this education but for AMERICANS..they deserve it. Right now an education up to a Masters will cost you a half million. A little out of line, don't you think?
Now that you read my post you can go back to watching American Idol.
The comments on these pictures are disgusting. I'd love to see the anti-social, anti-tax, survival of the fittest brigade put their model for society to the test on some island somewhere. Give them a nice little place to try it out. Meanwhile caring sensible people can put together a society where being poor is not a crime, needing help is not a failure and money is only worth what it is used to create.
The hatred that passes for comments these days is just... sad.
I hope that one day everyone can step back and realize that we are all the same. Regardless of race, creed, or religion, we all love, we all care and we all want what is best for our families, our children and our country. Its only after we re-establish the middle, where its ok to disagree but still possible to be constructive and encouraging that we will be able to truly move forward from this greed driven society that we have all become integral parts of. Our current government reflects exactly what we are dealing with as a whole. Two sides that are so convinced they know what is right for everyone that no one is willing to meet in the middle to find a solution that actually does work for everyone.
Reading the comments on this story and every other one that has come out in the past few years just shows that the further we go down this road of division the harder it will be to recover.
How on earth can anyone look at a picture of a four year old after being pepper sprayed and post the kind of crap in this comments section?
i don't think they were wanting free classes,just no more hike in rates,have you even looked on cregslist at how much rent is out there...1,400-2,300 for a 2 bedroom crapy house....but i hope someone looks into how much that staff gets in pay....no it must stop,these kids at least are tryin to stay in school.....i say have a old fation talk with each one of those board crack heads as they leave if they won't have a sit down ....afterall it WAS an open meeting right?we can't not have school for these kids tryin to go to school ....yes the kids were alittle outta line,but its there school not yours....i know lets raise your daughters education some more and see how you behave.... yep its offical,your all buttheads...
"Santa Monica College officer Sergeant Williams raises his baton to push back students who were trying to rush into the meeting."
Who the hell writes your captions MSNBC? That is one of the most ridiculous descriptions of what was going on there.
To answer cliveklg's question, the caption was supplied by Getty Images and their photographer on the scene, Michael Yanow.
David Arnott, msnbc.com Multimedia Producer.
I wish the cops would just go back to using live rounds to stop all these commies from whining about pepper spray.