NYPD blast LRAD sound cannons at OWS

Get short URL

Published time: November 17, 2011 16:20
Edited time: November 18, 2011 12:46

Image from twitpic by jopauca

Download video (35.5 MB)
Embed

Trends

Occupy Wall Street

Tags

Crisis, Economy, Human rights, Protest

RT’s New York crew has witnessed NYPD using LRADs, or sound cannons on Occupy Wall Street protesters. Eyewitnesses at the site have tweeted police fired as protesters sang the US national anthem .

RT correspondent Lucy Kafanov reports that the blasts of sound lasted no more than five seconds, but had a profound effect on protesters.Joshua Paul, an eyewitness, tweeted that LRADs emitted ‘High pitched noise’ and wrote: ‘Natural reaction: My face scrunched and hands started moving to my ears.’

Click to enlarge

NYPD has previously threatened to use LRADs during the dismantling of the Zucotti Park encampment early morning on November 15. However, that time police went no further than flexing their muscles, with the sound cannons not actually used.

But the incident led many to wonder how long police would take to act out their threats. It took them two days.

This is believed to be at least the second time they have been used on peaceful protests in the US.

Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) send harmful, pain inducing tones over longer distances and are rarely deployed for crowd control purposes. This is at least the second time they have been used on peaceful protests.

LRAD as filmed by RT crew

Comments (12)

Dave (unregistered) 19.11.2011 03:21

Delyla wrote in #7
They used the LRAD against protestors in Pittsburg during the G20 protests. The were repeatedly deployed over several days. If we find yourself being subject to the LRAD, howling or other high pitched noises can significantly reduce the effect of the device. This was tested in Pittsburg by myself and dozens of other people with good results. Those who wore earplugs and howled had the best results. However, groups of howling people were able to move towards the LRAD rather than away.

Undo

Longjohn 18.11.2011 22:09

All the two posters with their lame Laser theory did was prove how truely pathetic the American education system is when it comes to teaching basic science. Being able to use a cell phone and the internet isn't science and it certainly doesn't make you a technological guru ... I barely makes you average

Undo

AgreeToDisagree 18.11.2011 21:48

Are the protestors animals or cavemen? Buy some LRADs as well and point those at the police if they do that to you. Also do citizen's arrests for any police brutality while not throwing the first punch ever. They should not spread out to so many locations, and occupy the very most important place or 3 at most. Then they will have enough people to prevent arrests or even counter-arrest (citizen's arrest) for police brutality when it occurs, then by sheer numbers, the police would be less inclined to 'rush' them. They could rush back or at least be able to absorb and film any daring to raise a baton. What IS the message btw? Remove all billionaires from Congress? Demand that all billionaires donate 900 million per billion each to cover state and public debt should be a start. They have no business hokding on to that wealth when the country is going down.

Undo

View all comments (12)