Pregnant woman pepper sprayed at Occupy Seattle

Seattle activist Dorli Rainey, 84, reacts after being hit with pepper spray during an Occupy Seattle protest, Nov. 15, 2011 at Westlake Park in Seattle. / AP

SEATTLE - A downtown march and rally in support of the Occupy Wall Street movement turned briefly chaotic as police scattered a crowd of rowdy protesters — including a pregnant 19-year-old and an 84-year-old activist — with blasts of pepper spray.

Protest organizers denounced the use of force, saying that police indiscriminately sprayed the chemical irritant at peaceful protesters.

The Occupy Seattle movement released a written statement late Tuesday expressing support for "a 4-foot 10-inch, 84-year-old woman, a priest and a pregnant woman who as of this writing is still in the hospital."

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Dorli Rainey is an activist who has supported liberal causes in the Seattle area for decades. A photo showing Rainey being cared for by fellow activists in the immediate aftermath of the police incident appeared on news websites around the world.

Seattle Police officers deploy pepper spray into a crowd during an Occupy Seattle protest, Nov. 15, 2011 at Westlake Park in Seattle.

/ AP

Seattle police spokesman Jeff Kappel said he didn't have specifics on the Rainey incident, but he said pepper spray is "is not age specific. No more dangerous to someone who is 10 or someone who is 80."

He added, that if it were harmful, "we probably wouldn't be using pepper spray if that was the case."

Kappel said police had not yet established whether a pregnant woman was involved.

Paramedics examined a handful of people, including a 19-year-old woman who was three-months pregnant, Seattle fire department spokesman Kyle Moore said. The Seattle Times reported on its website that the woman was taken by ambulance to Harborview Medical Center.

Her identity and status were not immediately available.

Moore added that the protester's own medical response team had taken care of others.

"These protesters are well organized, they're using homemade remedies to counter pepper spray," he said.

Seattle police said plenty of verbal warnings were given to demonstrators attempting to block intersections and streets during rush hour.

"Pepper spray was deployed only against subjects who were either refusing a lawful order to disperse or engaging in assaultive behavior toward officers," Kappel wrote on the department's blog.

Kappel also noted that one man threw an "unknown liquid" at an officer's face and was arrested. The officer was not injured.

In another incident, Kappel said a 17-year-old woman swung a stick at an officer, and as police moved to arrest her, others tried to intervene on her behalf, prompting a blast of pepper spray.

Authorities arrested at least six people before quickly restoring order.

Occupy Seattle organizers said the downtown march was in solidarity with other Occupy Wall Street protests around the nation.

The skirmish Tuesday was the first clash in weeks.

Occupy Seattle moved its encampment to Seattle Central Community College late October. Before that, the group had been camping at Westlake Park, leading to tense standoffs with police and dozens of arrests.

[lilangel103]

"Protest organizers denounced the use of force, saying that police indiscriminately sprayed the chemical irritant at peaceful protesters." Of course the PROTESTERS stay that. What the media doesn't cover is that these groups are becoming more violent and the police are reacting in kind.

I too, hate the fact that there are billionaires in the world and I am not one... but you know what I do about it? I work for a living. I vote. I don't sleep in a tent, refuse to bathe, disrupt people who are working, subject my unborn child to deplorable conditions or do any of these other idiotic actions.

By the way, who do you think is going to pay for that 19 year old's child? It's that lack of discipline and responsibility that has resulted in abuse of the system and led us to this point.

[matrix0900]

I'm suprised Bloomberg's blue suited Nazi's didn't punch her in the stomach with thier PR-24's.The only real violence i've seen here is on the part of the rich folk's protective services. Opp's, I mean the NYPD.Wait until they break out the rocket launchers to bring granny down.

[yankee53]

If you play with fire you tend to get burnt whether you are 84 years old or 3 months pregnant. These people are old enough to be cognizent of what they are doing and the consequenses that come with their actions. This country is founded on the rule of law. You practice your right of the first ammendment and you follow the rule of law and then you will get the respect and following of ALL of America.

[whoa_nellie1]

I can't believe this chief of police, Kappel "tear gas has the same effect on an 8o year old as a 10 year old." Is that who he plans to tear gas next? Talk about your reasonable and prudent standard. As geriatric nurse I can only speak to the potential impact on a 84 year old. She could easily have in state of temporary blindness (an up to 45 minute) fell, broken a hip which could have easily and quite commonly be complicated by pneumonia or urinary tract infection. An 84 year old is 3 times more likely to die within a year of breaking a hip. At best its poor defense of an indiscriminate police action, at worst the guy is sadist. Seriously Mr Kappel? Seriously?

[TolFSTDT]

Personal observation, the cops actually go in for brutal tactics MORE against peaceful protesters than they do real rioters. Actual hoodlums would probably react to those tactics by attacking police. Old ladies won't fight back!

[tyler6970]

This is not going end soon .The violence is beginning to escalate. How long will it be before someone is shot and killed? The fat rich on wall street stand up there in the morning clapping like trained seals, pretending like nothing is going on. They just continue to steal... Your President and political leaders look the other way. Those GOP fools running for office don't know what is going on and won't address this. The police have turned into a swat teams....Oh, and the oil company's and Arabs are still charging $4.00 a gallon for gas so you can go to work to buy gas and pay taxes for them to give Aid to other country's or steal. Its total absolute insanity...

[psychology-unit]

contact me if youre feeling like you need more support. i share your same ideas.

[sandiegopete]

This story illustrates why the Occupy movement will continue to grow until the corruption in our government is eradicated. Most people in the USA can recognize oppresive tactics when they see them and this type of action by those determined to crush any dissent has a way to motivating people against the oppressors.

The Occupy movement will continue to grow until there is a Constitutional Amendment to invalidate the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Citzens United v. F.E.C.

Conservatives will soon join liberals in demanding a truly representative democracy here in the USA. When that happens after the small group of wealthy people who control this country have had their power reduced to the same level as the average citizen, the left and right can fight out their differences between themselves without the interference of the profiteers.

[Hala_c]

by Hala_c November 16, 2011 3:14 PM EST
Right across from the "Constitution & Bill of Rights-Hating Institute of Conservative Lower Education".
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by EmpireGeorge__- November 16, 2011 3:19 PM EST
so original.....so dim
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Yes, empire, it was ORIGINALly opened in 1980 to honor the Gipper and the halls are VERY dim, just like the students.

[Hala_c]

by EmpireGeorge__- November 16, 2011 3:18 PM EST
You supported the Libya overthrow...
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YOU supported Quadaffi? You do realize that his government supported terrorism don't you? Or were you born after Lockerbie?

[Hala_c]

by EmpireGeorge__- November 16, 2011 4:13 PM EST
What part of "it's none of your business" are you having trouble understanding ?
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YOU'VE NEVER MADE THIS STATEMENT. AND I"M PROVING THE POINT THAT YOU HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN WHINE ABOUT LIBS ALL DAY.
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I suggest you have the 50 variations of my name, to be accurate......the bottom line, mind your own business and make a comment if you wish.
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Wow! As if whining about libs all day isn't bad enough you feel the need to do it 50 different ways with 50 different names. Typical CON garbage. Using 49 other names to pat your other 1 name on the back is just pathetic! Using 50 names to try to make it seem like 50 different people agreewith the same stupidity is simply... STUPID!

[Zann-Zel]

lol...George I think you've stired up a hornets nest here! ; )

[Hala_c]

And again when empire has nothing of value to say he says a whole lot of nothing (apparently with 50 different user names).

Empire, the GOP is going to be very upset that you gave up information regarding their standard operating procedure. You know, the one where you inflate your numbers to make it appear that you're bigger than you are. A bunch of puffer fish is what you are. All puff and no substance.