Raw Story: Professor sues Pittsburgh for using sonic device at G-20 protest

[markpkessinger]

Professor sues Pittsburgh for using sonic device at G-20 protest

By Eric W. Dolan
Thursday, September 22nd, 2011 -- 7:03 pm

A bystander who suffered permanent hearing loss after Pittsburgh police deployed a Long Range Acoustic Device (LRAD) against protestors during the 2009 G-20 Summit has filed a federal lawsuit against the city. The device emits pain-inducing sounds to disperse crowds and is also deployed on American warships.

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While Piper was trying to leave the protest, without warning the police activated a LRAD a short distance away from her. She immediately became nauseous and dizzy, and felt fluid flowing from her ear.

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Since then, Piper has suffered from permanent nerve damage, tinnitus, barotrauma, left ear pain and fluid drainage, dizziness, and nausea. She is being represented by the the American Civil Liberties Union.

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"Police departments should not be using weapons built for the military on civilian protesters," said Witold Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania "As this case shows, the LRAD cannot be controlled to prevent serious harm to innocent bystanders. Collateral harm to innocents may be justifiable in wartime, but not to quell protesters who overturned a couple of trash dumpsters."

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Read full article at: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2011/09/22/professor-sues-pittsburgh-for-using-sonic-device-at-g-20-protest/

[Rabblevox]

1. Search for a similar story much? It's considered good form. Un-recced. /nt

[markpkessinger]

4. Thank you, Ms. Post, I'll try to remember that next time n/t

[Rabblevox]

8. Please do. It really is good manners not to duplicate a post made 2 hrs ago. /nt

[markpkessinger]

10. I'm aware of the etiquette. It was an oversight -- not like it's a habitual thing.

Get over yourself!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

6. Link?

[Rabblevox]

7. Here. Same story, 90 min sooner. Repetitive posts on the same topic are just cludge...

not to mention being a no-no in board etiquette in general, and DU's forum rules in particular.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x5003385

[MadHound]

12. Umm, 'scuse me, but give it a break

Six hundred and sixty two posts and you're already a rules lawyer around here. Puhleez Vulcan.

So you posted the same story a couple of hours ago, gee, if I had a dime for every friggin' duplicate I've seen on these boards over the past ten years, I would be taking a nice year long vacation over in Europe right about now.

Besides, with the traffic this place gets, a lot of us who weren't here two hours ago didn't see your post because it's already on the back pages and we appreciate this kind of information being available. That is, after all, what a lot of us come here for, information that we can't find elsewhere.

[markpkessinger]

9. The link was at the bottom of the post. n/t

[Gidney N Cloyd]

13. I was replying to reply # 1 suggesting he provide a link to the earlier post.

Which he then supplied.

All is now right with the world.

[Luminous Animal]

11. The other post is in Latest. No board etiquette has been breached.

[PA Democrat]

2. They used the LRAD on the campus of the University of Pittsburgh.

The device was used right outside of the student union, next to the courtyard of several dormitories, and along busy streets with stores and restaurants. People who weren't even involved in the protests were subjected to this weapon.

[markpkessinger]

3. self delete

[Dawson Leery]

5. These servants of the controlling powers deserve no sympathy from us.

PIGS indeed.