Mayor Ginther, at the press conference announcing a citywide curfew and National Guard deployment, commended the Columbus Police Department for their restraint during protests in recent days.
Mayor Ginther is not one for criticizing police, but that “restraint” he’s lauding has included the macing of City Council President Shannon Hardin and Rep. Joyce Beatty, along with numerous examples of police acting aggressively towards protestors while covering up body cams and identification (see update at bottom). Here are numerous examples – we’ll update if more surface.
July 28: (scroll down for previous incidents)
Use of pepper spray at close range, following detainment and removal of eye protection
https://twitter.com/Lena10E/status/1290456959393640461
July 2:
Woman seemingly arrested for picking up balloons in street
I wonder how the cops will lie about why they arrested this woman last night after she volunteered to help clean up balloons. Notice she is still standing on the sidewalk. pic.twitter.com/QIBMJ632LX
— ThirstEnergy Stadium (@winzigpedia) July 3, 2020
June 21:
Indiscriminate Macing (begins at 38 second mark)
NOW: Things have taken a turn here. Police came to intersection and tried to push crowd out with bikes. This happened. @nbc4i pic.twitter.com/HnHxYWkR0l
— Eric Halperin (@EricHalperinTV) June 21, 2020
Another viewpoint:
https://twitter.com/d_annny/status/1274846087027851264
CW: police violence
Video of Columbus Police being violent towards protesters downtown, not even a week after @MayorGinther said pepperspray would not be used against protestors. #ResignGinther #FireChiefQuinlan pic.twitter.com/g1AGKhhYKG
— SURJ Columbus (@SURJColumbusOH) June 22, 2020
From Dispatch coverage:
Columbus police Commander Smith Weir said one person was arrested because they had thrown a motorized scooter at an officer in front of the McKinley statue on South High Street. Another person was also arrested.
Weir said that mace was used during the skirmish in front of South High Street. He said mace was also used when officers were surrounded by protesters.
…
Mayor Andrew Ginther issued a directive Tuesday barring police from using tear gas and other chemical agents against peaceful protesters. Ginther also limited the use of pepper spray to instances of clear violence.
Ginther, though, issued a statement Sunday that supported the police action.
Police mace double amputee and confiscate artificial limbs:
From this Reddit thread.
from the reddit post "CPD just hit and maced a double amputee. Bravo, you heroes. Unarmed, no legged, they dgaf" pic.twitter.com/knTrJH6coO
— fdisc0 (@sunlote) June 22, 2020
Earlier:
1. Columbus Police Mace A Woman Walking Away Who Has Her Back Turned
Not my video, but it shows Columbus police macing a woman as she walks away from them. Absolutely disgusting #columbusprotest #GeorgeFloydProtests #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/3qCQndM7s6
— ℜ??? ?? ?????? #BLACKLIVESMATTER (@lalaitskelcey2) May 30, 2020
2. SWAT Officer Chases Woman Leaving Protest, Maces Three Times
Last night, I was walking to my car on High Street in Downtown Columbus. A SWAT officer chased me on his bike for about a block while I was sprinting away. I had my hands up and a camera in hand. He told me it was “too fucking late” to leave. He maced me three separate times. pic.twitter.com/NUd7rEk6MK
— jules (@julialwashere) May 30, 2020
3. Police Macing Indiscriminately
we were doing nothing wrong. the organizers of this protest put so much fucking effort into keeping it as peaceful as possible and look at what these pos cops CHOSE TO DO TO US#columbusprotest #BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/sY4PQlMQc8
— BLACK LIVES MATTER (@rottenstrwbry) May 30, 2020
4. CPD Uses Pepper Spray On Rep. Joyce Beatty And City Council President Shannon Hardin
Columbus Police use pepper spray on protesters on South High Street as Congresswomen Joyce Betty and Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin try to intervene pic.twitter.com/oxsye02rFp
— Kyle Robertson (@KRobPhoto) May 30, 2020
5. Officer Maces From A Distance
Hi. The police officer pepper spraying a man in this picture is Sergeant David Gitlitz.
He attended Bexley High School and graduated in the same class as me.
He has been involved in TWO police killings of citizens. pic.twitter.com/yNwsLvJEk8— Cheese Mom (@Cheesemaman) May 30, 2020
6. More Macing From Far Away
Photographer being pepper sprayed by police during protests downtown from r/Columbus
7. CPD Rips Gas Mask Off Of Protestor And Peppers Sprays Person With Hands Up
8. Police Pepper Spray Journalists From The Lantern
Our reporters were sprayed by police after identifying themselves as "news media" repeatedly. News media are exempt from the curfew. #columbusprotest pic.twitter.com/GOzptPjZD9
— The Lantern (@TheLantern) June 2, 2020
More:
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Here’s the other angle of this incident. Even more damning. pic.twitter.com/kEcudf7xmj
— Joshua Fitzgerald (@joshfitz) May 30, 2020
16.
Video I captured of police dumping protestors water at yesterday’s event. from r/Columbus
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18.
05-30-2020 in Columbus,Ohio. Not my video, but of me. Protestors agreeing to peacefully disburse with hands up. I'm purple shirt who falls behind(maced in the face right before this video starts) tackled to the ground with no warning #BlackLivesMatter #columbusprotests #Columbus pic.twitter.com/NFNgGKuiw8
— Ian (@inigo_fox) June 1, 2020
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https://www.instagram.com/p/CBCl6p0DERI/
Update: Reports are in that tape coverings may be used as signaling and not body cam/ID concealment. Other info claims body cams aren’t able to be used with issued riot gear in Columbus. We have a request for more info to CPD PR and will update if/when they respond.
Update #2: Police Chief Quinlan admitted to City Council last night that police are unable to use body cams or badges with identification while in riot gear. More here.