"The Police has fired Tear Gas onto a dispersing crowd"
C. Montgomery
As a mother of a six-month-old baby, who attended the rally, I was horrified by the actions of the Colorado Springs Police Department on Feb. 15, 2003. Luckily my husband had our child safely away from the Tear Gas. I, on the other hand, was not. I know I put myself in that position, but at the same time I was not acting ill mannered. When the Police fired off the canisters, I was in the process of SINCERELY asking one of the Police officers, who was standing at the intersection of Academy and Maizeland Rd., why the rally was deemed unlawful. The last I checked, we, as citizens, had the right to lawfully gather on public land. This is the USA right???? Well anyways.. about the time I had asked the Officer my question, he turned to look at his co-workers who were in the process of Tear Gassing a dispersing crowd, and then turned and looked at me whilst grinning. It was as though he was telepathically saying HaHa! You’re about to get gassed. About that time, I heard the canisters being fired off and saw the smoke. I immediately started running. As I ran through the gas, trying desperately to get to fresh air, I ran across a pregnant lady lying there in the field. She was due anytime and was incapacitated by the Tear Gas. Thankfully, a man ran up to her and put a towel over her face as I poured water on it. I felt sorry for the women, but I had to keep going as I felt I wanted to pass out. Finally!!! I hit fresh air only to look around to see the despair on un-expectantly gassed, peaceful protester faces.
Once all of the chaos around me was over, I realized that the Police had fired Tear Gas onto a dispersing crowd. Once the Tear Gas was fired, those people involved ran into the field, which at that time was a makeshift parking lot, only to be greeted by another, for lack of a better word, Task Force who then proceeded in Gassing the people again. It was like a trap.
On Monday Feb. 17, 2003, my husband called the Colorado Springs Police Dept. to request a Complaint Form, only to be told that they did not have a Complaint Form and that he would have to come down to the Police Department and talk with the Cop on Duty to file a complaint. This in it’s self is against the law. We are legally entitled to file a complaint against a Police Department at our digression.
Needless to say, I am
shocked at the brutality witnessed here. The Colorado Springs Police Department
had Tear Gassed a dispersing crowd made of people from all walks of life, who
felt the need to standup for something they truly believe in. Amongst these
folks, who unfortunately got caught up in the fire, were WOMEN, MEN, CHILDREN,
PREGNANT WOMEN, HANDICAPPED PERSONS, AND THE ELDERLY. And by knowing this, they
are desperately trying to cover it up by not allowing folks to file a complaint
against their department. If you are reading this and were involved, whether
voluntary or not, please contact the Pikes Peak Justice and Peace Commission at
http://www.pikespeakjusticeandpeace.org/ and tell them your story.
Peace!!!!!