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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (March 18, 2004)
NOW OPEN! extreme: those who are throwing stuff, breaking stuff, violent. You may very well use pepper spray against them. EW: Pepper bullets? RL: Against a person who is throwing things, breaking things, setting things on fire or violent? Yes. But for the second kind of protest, in the spirit of Martin Luther King Jr.’s nonviolent civil disobedience, the short answer is ‘no.’ I don’t think you do. Where it gets tricky is, if for example, there’s some- thing else going on. Let’s say, and I’m mak- ing stuff up, because I have no idea, but if there’s a court order trying to remove that person from that tree. What that means is there’s some kind of time imperative on it because in most cases I don’t see why there would be a time imperative on it and frankly, if you want to sit in a tree for 20 days, I real- ly don’t care. (EPD public information officer Pam Olshanski interrupts and tells him about the 1997 June 1 incident.) EW: It’s happened. Police approached someone in a tree, pulled his pants open, pep- per sprayed down his pants, while the mayor sat in his car and watched. Symantec Corporation wanted the trees removed to build a parking lot. Now the trees are gone, and so is Symantec. RL: I don’t know enough about that spe- cific case. But I tell you, it doesn’t sound ew good. holed up in a bank vault with three hostages, that’s not an option. Then the question is: At what level do you keep that capacity to be able to deal with that situation and two, when do you use it? EW: We had somebody come from Los Angeles who looked at Eugene like it was L.A. We have peaceful protests here. And we have a SWAT team that has come out and faced down peaceful protesters. RL: Well, I’ve gone pretty well on record as saying you don’t use advanced tactical operations against peaceful protesters. You don’t. EW: So, pepper spray? What do you think about using it? RL: It depends on the circumstances. EW: Peaceful protest. RL: Now define peaceful protest. EW: People gathered, they may be shout- ing, or singing or chanting, but they don’t have guns or weapons of any kind, maybe marching down the street. RL: Are they violating the law? EW: Would you use pepper spray against somebody who’s jaywalking? RL: No. EW: Would you use pepper spray against somebody who’s sitting in a tree? RL: That depends. The short answer to the question is none of these are black and white. Every situation depends. If you’re dealing with nonviolent protesters, there are protesters of three types. There are those that are nonviolent and legal, not breaking any laws. Obviously you don’t. You don’t use any type of police action against a protester like that, at all. Let’s use the opposite Fresh salad rolls • Thom Kaa Ghai Green papaya salad • Honey roasted duck Dine In, Take Out • 541-342-6666 • 652 East Broadway • Eugene, OR Hours: 11am-9pm M-Thu • 11am-10pm Fri. • 12-10pm Sat. • 12-9pm Sun. The interview continues online at www.eugeneweekly.com Lord Leebrick Theatre Company presents The of SKIN Thornton Wilder's OUR TEETH March 26 - April 17 Previews* March 24 & 25 • 8 p.m. Thursday - Saturday • 8 p.m. Sunday Matinees • March 28 & April 4 • 2 p.m. "...a vital and wonderful piece of theatre" Tickets $8 - $16 *Previews only $5 for 20/25 club! Don't miss this classic American comedy! BOX OFFICE • 540 Charnelton • 465-1506 -New York Herald Tribune This week try our: Taste of India Buffet Lunch Special $6.99 all you can eat. 7 days a week. Sunday Dinner Buffet Special $10.99 all you can eat (children’s prices vary). ✪ Voted Best Indian Restaurant -Eugene Weekly Readers 1998-2000 Free soft drinks, tea, coffee. (With lunch buffet) The Little Cafe That Time Forgot m 25 YEARS & still cookin'! Best breakfast in town. If we don't make it, we don't serve it. Vegans, Carnivores, Vegetarians we serve them all! 342-2075 • 395 W. 5th, Eugene • Open 7am, 7 days a week Catering available ◆ Full menu available to go 7 Days a week 11:oo-3:00 & 5:oo-10:oo 2495 Hilyard St., Eugene, OR 97405 ◆ ph & fax (541) 485-9698 ◆ ph 485-9560 http://tasteofindia.uswestdex.com MARCH 18, 2004 9
