Incidental harm caused to innocent bystanders by police is sometimes defended under the doctrine that widespread, general tactics are a safe and effective means of quelling a disturbance. However, many of Sunday morning’s injuries were deliberately inflicted upon specific nonviolent individuals, foreclosing this attempted defense.

To those who continue to support the actions of the Ames Police Department in spite of its demonstrated excesses: Perhaps you would think differently if your sister or best friend or significant other had been among those Maced at point-blank range.

Unprovoked assault upon an innocent individual is not made morally palatable simply by the attacker’s possession of a badge.

Rielly Liebhard

Senior

Political Science