With protests pressing on, Seattle mayor bans the use of tear gas. Here’s why
On the eighth day of George Floyd protests in Seattle, Mayor Jenny Durkan announced that police will not be allowed to use tear gas on demonstrators, as a 30-day ban is now in effect, according to The Seattle Times.
While police will no longer be able to use tear gas for crowd control, flash-bang grenades, pepper spray and other crowd control tools and tactics can still be used, the Times reported. The ban on tear gas will remain in place until watchdog groups recommend it should be lifted, according to KOMO News.
Floyd, a black man, died May 25 while in custody of Minneapolis police, after-now fired officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into Floyd’s’ neck for almost nine minutes, prosecutors have said. Chauvin, who is white, has since been charged with second degree-murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, according to media reports.
Durkan and Police Chief Carmen Best announced the ban at a Friday news conference, after three civilian accountability groups told city leaders the move would build public trust while the department adopts policies and training on the use of tear gas, the Associated Press reported.
While the ban is in place, the Community Police Commission, the Office of Police Accountability and the Office of Inspector General for Public Safety will conduct a review of the department’s crowd control policies, according to AP.
Local health officials have said the use of tear gas and other respiratory irritants could risk spreading coronavirus, according to AP. Tear gas makes people cough and potentially hurts their immune systems, both of which help to spread COVID-19, KOMO reported.
Chief Best said SWAT teams will still be able to use tear gas if they find it necessary, but it must be approved the police chief, KOMO reported. While other cities such as New Orleans have proposed banning tear gas in the midst of the protests, Seattle seems to be the first to make the move, according to NOLA.com.
Thousands of community members complained about the department’s response during the protests in the past week, the Times reported.
“It’s really important we’re looking at every aspect of force and how we’re utilizing it,” Chief Best said during the press conference, according to the Times. “We’ll review everything we’re utilizing.”