Shane S
The city council committee got an earful Wednesday from people angry about the police pepper spraying protestors at a recent Donald Trump rally.
The matter became an issue this month after video spread of police spraying a man they arrested.
Four people were arrested in all, including one woman for allegedly slapping a police horse.
Police Chief Darryl Forte in his blog and elsewhere has praised how the matter was handled. He was out of town last week and has not yet addressed the council public safety committee.
The matter was not on the committee agenda Wednesday but people showed up for it and were allowed to speak.
At the Trump rally this month, his supporters were on one side of Main Street outside the Midland Theater and protestors on the other.
Forte has said police acted properly to keep the protestors out of the street and to maintain order.
On Wednesday, protestors strongly disputed that. Some said police seemed to side with the Trump faction. Some got verbally combative.
A man who identified himself only as “Shane S” said he was one of those arrested.
Police have said they were concerned because there had been a bomb threat, he said, but there has been no evidence of a bomb threat.
He demanded they present evidence within 48 hours or it should be considered a lie that there was any bomb threat.
Others said police put the crowd at risk by riding horses into it.
Keith Brown El said the horses could have broken feet and when someone touched one, police used it as an excuse to pepper spray people.
Patrick Sumner said he had been an activist for decades, done many protests and had never seen police use pepper spray at one.
“This is a very dangerous precedent,” he said.
Councilwoman Alissia Canady, chair of the committee, said they would continue to research the incident and report on it.
She noted that the Board of Police Commissioners, appointed by the state, controls the police.
Grow up and act like an adult, protesters. If you don’t want stepped on, get out of the way. The Mounted Patrol is there to help keep order. The animals are highly trained and are priceless in helping with crowd control.
If protesters would protest in an orderly, civilized manner, there would be no need for police protection. They are there to protect both sides from harm and anyone showing signs of unruliness is cause for alarm.
Stop whining and look at both sides from a rational perspective. Don’t just act out for attention like a spoiled child.
I remember the history of the United States of America. The ultimate protesters were those who started the American Revolution. I am wondering if they were civilized and grown up; I do not think they could be called whiners. I still wonder who those who were quickly recognized as anarchists were at the Trump event. This whole reaction to the protesters is a black eye for Kansas City.