Extreme police tactics are not a new phenomenon in the United States. But in the age of social media, police violence, such as the shooting of unarmed people, the use of pepper spray and taser guns are being documented for the world to see.
The Occupy protesters throughout the country felt the full force of police tactics - many were subject to violent arrest.
Perhaps the most controversial example was at the University of California, Davis (UC Davis) where peaceful protesters were pepper sprayed last November.
© 2012 Al-Jazeera
