This is Eric Mortensen's blog. He works @ Blip and lives in Brooklyn.
Depending on brand, an OC spray may contain water, alcohols, or organic solvents as liquid carriers; and nitrogen, carbon dioxide, or halogenated hydrocarbons (such as Freon, tetrachloroethylene, and methylene chloride) as propellants to discharge the canister contents.(3) Inhalation of high doses of some of these chemicals can produce adverse cardiac, respiratory, and neurologic effects, including arrhythmias and sudden death.
The bottom line is that there is no need to use pepper spray on nonviolent protesters who are peacefully sitting on the...