Police criticised over treatment of women on ‘Occupy Wall Street’ march

Summary of story from The Guardian, September 25, 2011

New York police have been accused of being heavy-handed towards protestors on the ‘Occupy Wall Street’ march after young women were penned in.

And disturbing footage has emerged on YouTube showing police officers spraying mace at a group of young female protestors who are apparently only being vocal.

Anne-Marie Slaughter, who was director of policy planning at the US State Department from 2009 to 2011, said on Twitter that this was “Not the image or reality the US wants, at home or abroad,” linking to a picture of a police officer kneeling on a protester pinned to the ground.

The media in New York has been accused of being slow at covering the demonstrations, which have been going on for more than a week (see WVoN coverage), but the New York Daily News has now managed to pick it up.