Last week, leaders from around the world gathered in Pittsburgh to discuss the state of the world economy. They were followed, as world leaders often are when they gather, by protesters who came to have their voices heard. And the protesters were followed, as they often are, by police officers.
The scene Thursday night can only be described as chaotic, and many were arrested. Protests convened again Friday night, in response to the first, and several University of Pittsburgh students came out to see what was happening.
They were met with tear gas and projectiles. One hundred and ten, many of them students and several of whom were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time, were arrested. The police were trying to control a situation, but their response was out of proportion with the actions they witnessed. Many of the students were simply out for the evening, or there to see if anything would happen, and as such did not deserve their treatment. The district attorney’s office and the school are reviewing the students’ charges before determining the course of action, and we hope that they will recognize that the majority of these students should not be severely punished. We understand that those who violated laws should be punished; it’s unfortunate that so many students became embroiled in this situation.
