Two people were hospitalized Tuesday evening after Santa Monica (Calif.) College police officers allegedly pepper-sprayed a crowd of students and others protesting tuition increases outside a meeting of the college’s board of trustees. An investigation to determine who released the spray is under way.

The trustees relocated after the crowd failed to gain entry to the original meeting room. No arrests were made. The protesters were permitted to voice their concerns from a room nearby. Later the board announced that the college would pay the medical bills of injured students. Reportedly, there were injuries to several other people in addition to the two who were hospitalized.

See footage of the incident below. –ARK

Los Angeles Times:

Police on Wednesday were trying to sort out who used pepper spray against a crowd of protesters at Santa Monica College, causing two people to be hospitalized and others to suffer minor injuries.

The pepper spray was used during a protest Tuesday evening by about 100 students against a plan to offer high-priced courses at the college this summer. They were attending a meeting of the college’s board of trustees.

A handful of protesters suffered minor injuries as campus police tried to prevent dozens of students chanting “Let us in, let us in” and “No cuts, no fees, education should be free” from disrupting the meeting during a public comment period. …

… Police are investigating the circumstances of when the pepper spray was used and by whom.

Read more

Wait, before you go…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

Support Truthdig