Violent clashes between Occupy protesters and police broke out in Denver, Colorado, and Portland, Oregon, over the weekend.
Police arrested 20 people and fired pepper spray and pepper balls as they moved to tear down tents set up by Occupy Denver demonstrators on Saturday. Amid angry scenes, two protesters were held on felony charges after police said an officer was knocked off his motorcycle and other officers were kicked.
Patricia Hughes, 38, a nurse who was at the Denver demonstration described the police behaviour as "brutal and outlandish."
She said that police were putting on their riot gear before the demonstration began and that more than 100 officers charged into the crowd after one officer fell while dismantling a tent.
"It's an extraordinary decision that the police in Denver think rubber bullets are an acceptable response to a peaceful protest," she said. » | Dominic Rushe in New York | Sunday, October 30, 2011
