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Comment by mquander | Hacker News Reader

I watched that video. You have clearly mastered the application of Newton's third law, by pointing out that when someone pushes you away with their hand, you are also pushing against their hand. We only disagree about whether it's correct to pepper spray someone in the face when this happens.

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The guy did not take a step or two back, like everyone else seen in the video was doing

edit: I just walked the video again. you have to be crazy if you don't think the guy was encroaching on the officer's space

I agree. We clearly have a dramatic difference of opinion about when it is a good time to pepper spray someone. I suppose the police officer in the video shares your opinion, and the authors of the document share mine.

The cops seem to have a low threshold for using it.

There was a video where a bunch of riot police were riding on the outside of an SUV. One fell off of it to the ground, got back up turned around and pepper sprayed behind him, even though there was no one behind him. There was no one moving towards him or even near him.

Truly an insane moment that really underscores the level of fear these cops are acting under. If they are that unstable, they should not be out in the field currently.

I have said this elsewhere on HN, but I think these protests would be better for everyone if police simply did not show up. I think the video we are referencing is a great example why.

Like what Minneapolis was experiencing before the National Guard came in?

The national guard is backing up the police. The police presence there was long before they came in. So yes, like Minneapolis. If the initial police response was different we could see a vastly different landscape of protests currently, but that set the tone and virtually no departments have been effective or even been trying to deescalate it seems.

I saw that video. The guy clearly shuffled in place. He did not step back, and therefore did not obey the cop's order.

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