Pepper spray: US campus police suspended
An officer appeared to spray the protesters at close range
A US university has suspended two campus police officers over the use of pepper spray on students at a peaceful protest on Friday in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement.
Video of the incident shows police blasting seated protesters in the face with the chemical at close range.
The chancellor of the University of California, Davis, who had called in the police, criticised the use of pepper spray on the protesters.
However, she says she will not resign.
The demonstration was intended to show solidarity with protesters at another branch of the University of California, in Berkeley, who were hit with batons by police on 9 November.
The footage of the pepper spray incident, which has been circulated widely on the internet, caused outrage among students.
The protesters are seen sitting in a line on the floor with their arms interlocked, refusing to move.
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Davis Faculty Association statementThe violence was unprovoked, disproportional and excessive”
They try to cover their faces as officers in riot gear walk along emptying canisters of the spray onto them.
'Excessive force'Linda Katehi, Chancellor of the University of California, Davis, near Sacramento, described the use of pepper spray as "chilling".
She said the university was launching an investigation into what had happened.
A task force comprised of students, staff and faculty members would be set up and asked to report back within 30 days, she said.
"The use of pepper spray as shown on the video is chilling to us all and raises many questions about how best to handle situations like this," Ms Katehi said in a message on the university's website.
The Davis Faculty Association, which represents academic staff, has condemned the University of California's approach to protests on several different campuses.
"This week, we have seen excessive force used against non-violent protesters," said a statement on the association's website.
"Student, faculty and staff protesters have been pepper-sprayed directly in the eyes and mouth, beaten and shoved by batons, dragged by the arms while handcuffed, and submitted to other forms of excessive force."
'Occupy' protests have been held on several University of California campuses, including in this rally at Berkeley "The violence was unprovoked, disproportional and excessive," it said.
"We demand that the Chancellors of the University of California cease using police violence to repress non-violent political protests."
The association said Ms Katehi should resign, a call she rejected.
"I do not think that I have violated the policies of the institution," she said.
"I have worked personally very hard to make the campus a safe campus for all."
The Occupy Wall Street protests began in New York more than two months ago against perceived corporate greed and economic inequality.
Similar protests have since sprung up in other places around the United States and elsewhere in the world.
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