UC Davis pepper spray incident
Photographer: Louise Macabitas
Date: November 18, 2011
Location: UC Davis, California, USA
Louise Macabitas photographed University of California police lieutenant John Pike casually pepper-spraying a line of seated, non-violent student protesters at UC Davis on November 18, 2011, during an Occupy movement protest against tuition increases. The image went viral immediately, sparking national outrage. The photograph prompted a university investigation that found the pepper-spraying was unwarranted. Pike was placed on administrative leave and later resigned; he received a workers' compensation settlement of $38,000. UC Davis paid $1 million in a settlement to the students. The image was widely remixed online, placing Pike's nonchalant pose into famous artworks and historical photographs. The university's chancellor, Linda Katehi, eventually resigned in 2016 over unrelated matters, but the incident followed her career.
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