Michigan police pepper-spray, arrest protesters opposing ‘right to work’ law

[Playinghardball]

Michigan State Police say they were forced to use pepper spray and arrest at least four protesters who were opposing right to work legislation at the Michigan Capitol on Thursday.

Michigan State Police Inspector Gene Adamczyk told the Detroit Free Press that a number of protesters tried to rush the state Senate floor.

“When several of the individuals rushed the troopers, they used chemical munitions to disperse the crowd,” Adamczyk said. “It would be a lot worse if someone gets hurt and I failed to act.”

WILX reported that the Capitol building had been locked and at least four protesters were arrested during the incident. WILX reporter Brian Johnson estimated that there were around 500 protesters in the building.

Video posted by Michigan Senate Democrats showed Republican state Senator Tonya Schuitmaker angrily gaveling the Senate session into recess as the crowd became rowdy.

“Additionally, Republicans have called in countless State Police officers again today to guard their offices and question the public as they enter the Capitol to protest the Republican agenda,” the Democrats wrote. “Frankly, if you have to bring in a massive police presence in order to conduct business at the State Capitol, it might be time for Republicans to rethink what they’re doing.”

Raw Story (http://s.tt/1w7tU)

[PETRUS]

1. Thanks for posting this. nt

[Walk away]

2. "So, NBC just "confirmed" that Syria has loaded chem weapons on missiles."

That is the post right above this one. I know they are unrelated and it is comparing apples and oranges but...it just struck me as sad and ironic.

[Ikonoklast]

7. Only differences are those of scale and proportion.

Same principles involved, power using force against the powerless in order to remain in power.

[Scuba]

3. Thank you Michigan protesters! Solidarity!!!

[FightForMichigan]

4. Sad day

Right to work passes in the House 58-52 with not a single committee hearing or a single word of testimony, and after the Speaker of the House, Jase Bolger, and others shut the capitol to citizens and kept protesters outside stating structural concerns for the building - even as school groups were allowed inside.

I feel sick.

[slampoet]

5. Looks like we need to eliminate the POLICE UNION first

[FightForMichigan]

6. ha ha

actually, the police and fire union are still protected - those were the ony two unions exempted from this bill.

[pacalo]

9. But their salaries come from those who will be affected by the "right to work for less" bill.

Policemen & firemen will feel the pinch, too, eventually. Why don't they get this?

[FightForMichigan]

10. it's not the police officers' fault

all the blame, 100 percent of it, is squarely on the Republicans.

[John2]

11. I don't agree,

the police are just as guilty, carrying out the republicans orders. They should have disobeyed and joined the protestors. And I totally disagree with their tactics. It is no different than what is happening in Egypt. That Governor is following the orders of people like the Koch brothers. And people do have the power to throw out an oppressive government by force if that is the last resort. I think the Governor and Republican Legislature need to compromise and negotiate with the people. The definition is a revolt.

[Earth_First]

12. here, here!

it's becoming a 'which side are you on' situation; which side of history do you want to be on?

[byeya]

8. The police need to wise up and stop acting like hired thugs for management.

[Stainless]

13. Henry Ford Hated Unions

The Ford Service Division was a security force formed by Henry Ford and led by a man named Harry Bennett. Bennett was an uneducated thug and a bully as were most of the people he recruited. There were incidents in the 1930's where protesters were brutally assaulted and some were shot and killed by Bennett's hired thugs with the help of the local police who looked the other way. Unions were established to protect workers from the abusive working conditions of greedy robber barons. I haven't owned a Ford vehicle since I learned that Henry Ford was a bloody fascist, nor will I ever again own one.