I'm writing you to express my anger over the actions of the Madison police early Sunday morning. At approximately 2 a.m., I exited The Pub, 522 State St., with a group of friends. Outside, we joined a crowd of several thousand costumed people who were jumping up and down and singing, 'Ol??, ol??, ol??.' I had no sense that anyone had the intention of engaging in any activity that would constitute a riot. Nevertheless, a phalanx of police officers marched into the crowd and began dousing us with pepper spray. I was not hit directly with the spray, but found myself enveloped in a cloud that scorched my eyes and throat.
I truly believe that nearly everyone in the crowd sought only to have fun and to avoid the unpleasantness of previous years. If anyone wanted to cause a disturbance, the stadium lighting, which was in my opinion an inspired idea, served as an effective deterrent. If people had been breaking widows, lighting fires or throwing projectiles at police officers, I would wholly understand a decision to use pepper spray against the crowd. However, in contrast to previous years, none of this destructive behavior occurred. Dousing people with pepper spray is an assault that police should avoid unless they have no other option.
The only reason this year's celebration was not a complete success is that the police attacked the revelers without justification. For a few moments last night, I felt as though the city I call home had been transformed into some sort of fascist Orwellian state. That burns me worse than pepper spray ever could.
