PHOENIX (KSAZ) - On Wednesday, activist groups denounced
Phoenix Police Department's actions on Tuesday night following President Donald Trump's rally, calling officers "aggressive" and "violent".Police did deploy tear gas, pepper spray, and pepper balls on the crowd, after rocks and bottles had been thrown at officers. Activists said the use of such force was unnecessary, when protestors were mostly peaceful.
Phoenix's Police Chief, however, pointed out that officers used non-lethal force against the crowd, only after commands to disperse were ignored, and objects like bottles and rocks were thrown at them.
The incident that led to the use of force reportedly involved a small group, in a crowd of more than 10,000 people. After the objects were thrown, the front line reportedly moved forward. As the crowd resists, pepper spray was deployed.
"We were terrorized," said Carlos Garcia with Puente Human Rights Movement. "We were attacked by the Phoenix Police Department. They came in as if this was a war zone."
As people's eyes and faces began to burn, the crowd starts to disperse. On Wednesday, several activist groups came together to denounce the department and demand an explanation.
