UC Davis student leaders condemn police use of pepper spray
Student leaders at UC Davis planned to meet with the media Tuesday afternoon to discuss a response after campus police used pepper spray on a group of Occupy protesters Friday.
The Associated Students of UC Davis called a news conference for 2 p.m. and is expected to call for more scrutiny on the actions of officers. The leaders also passed a resolution condemning the police action.
Police used pepper spray to break up an encampment Friday on the campus quad.
A new encampment was erected Monday, hours after the campus police chief was placed on administrative leave and Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi was shouted down at a demonstration while trying to apologize for Friday's incident.
Katehi was to hold a town hall meeting at 4 p.m. Tuesday
University officials and campus police have been the target of angry reprisals since video spread on the Internet showing police in riot gear dousing pepper spray on a row of students sitting passively on the ground with their arms linked.
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University of California President Mark G. Yudof called the chancellors of all 10 campuses and reminded them of the right to protest peacefully.
"We cannot let this happen again," he said, according to a statement from the president's office.
Two UC Davis police officers also were placed on administrative leave after the students were sprayed.
University spokeswoman Claudia Morain said the school was monitoring the new encampment and did not say whether the students would be allowed to stay overnight.
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-- From a Times staff writer
Photo: A sign with a picture of a pepper spray canister is posted on a tree during a demonstration at the UC Davis campus Monday. Credit: Justin Sullivan / Getty Images
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