Postgame Haka dancers in Utah pepper sprayed by police

[chitown]

Postgame Haka dancers in Utah pepper sprayed by police - Prep Rally - High School

Controversy has erupted in Utah after police reacted aggressively to a traditional Maori dance being performed by men and high school students after a small town football game on Thursday night.

According to the Associated Press, Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune, among other sources, a group of relatives of a player for the Roosevelt (Utah) Union High football team was attacked with pepper spray by police officers in Roosevelt, Utah while performing the dance shortly after Uintah's 17-14 victory. The group performing the Haka reportedly blocked the exit from the field, and while their dance was destined to be a quick one -- as practically all Hakas performed by sports teams are -- police insisted that they move from the area to allow players and others to leave the field.
When they began dancing instead, Roosevelt police began using pepper spray to displace the crowd.
"I've never seen anything like it," Union fan Jason Kelly told the Deseret News. "It was totally unprovoked."

The Haka has become a more popular pre-game or postgame attraction for sports teams across American sports after its use by the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team spread globally. The All Blacks, who perform an intimidating Haka before every game, won the 2011 Rugby World Cup on Sunday in an 8-7 victory against France.
The pepper spray spread far beyond the performers, reaching players and fans at the game and causing fans to run from the scene with watering eyes.
You can see video of the Haka melee above, which shows police officers insisting that the dancers "make a hole," in their formation to allow players and others to leave the field. As onlooker Zack Aguiniga told the Salt Lake Tribune, the dancers may not have been able to hear that command because they were in the middle of their Haka performance, chanting loudly in unison and drowning out surrounding noise.
As the police officers sprayed the crowd, either a dancer or onlooker could be heard yelling "I'm going to sue you guys," at the officers.
Nearly all who reported witnessing the incident said the dancers posed no security threat and questioned why police had acted the way they did.

"Five seconds into it, the police officers started coming at them with their clubs, telling them to make room," Union fan Jessica Rasmussen told the Tribune. "They started spraying Mace."
Shawn Mitchell, who was at the game with his son and mother-in-law, also categorized the police response as a clear overreaction when interviewed by the Deseret News.

"I didn't see anything that looked like there could be a threat," he said.

[FailSafe]

I love the shouts of, "I'm gonna sue you man- I'm gonna sue you!" within three seconds of the spray being deployed.

[Rigger]

Retards dealing with retards

[chitown]

Retards dealing with retards

you keep using the word "retarded" which is nasty and pointless

[Bettyboo]

^ ^ did seem to be the way; Tongan (and other) kids behaving like kids; it was no big deal, but the moronic police went totally OTT and made a bad situation out of nothing...

This seems to be time after time in the US. Is US society starting to crumble... fall to pieces even... I thought the UK would be in tatters before the US, but maybe I was wrong.

[chitown]

Read some of the comments on youtube - some people called the Tongans the "N" word.

[FailSafe]

^^

That's possible, BB, but I would bet that there's been trouble in the stands before with provocation from the spectators, and the cops have learned the hard way that a quick crowd dispersal though (relatively) harmless means is sometimes the better way out (though they also might have been being assholes- I'm just speculating)

[Butterfly]

The US Police reminds me of the Thai retard peasants up north, not thinking through anything that comes into their mind

[FailSafe]

The US Police reminds me of the Thai retard peasants up north, not thinking through anything that comes into their mind

Yes, they should have known instinctively that it was a 'haka', a tribal warrior dance that originated on the other side of the Earth and not the prelude to some violent activity (which, actually, I believe is what it's really supposed to be).

[Marmite the Dog]

The US Police reminds me of the Thai retard peasants up north, not thinking through anything that comes into their mind

The remind me of the Soviet police.

[Marmite the Dog]

Yes, they should have known instinctively that it was a 'haka', a tribal warrior dance that originated on the other side of the Earth and not the prelude to some violent activity (which, actually, I believe is what it's really supposed to be).

Or maybe if they weren't you typical ignorant Americans they would've known this, like nearly every other nation on Earth does.

[FailSafe]

Or maybe if they weren't you typical ignorant Americans they would've known this, like nearly every other nation on Earth does.

You're the one making an ignorant comment here- there are no prominent New Zealand teams that compete in any sport in the States (we don't get regular appearances by the All-Blacks), and the 'haka' is not well-known at all in the US- it's an obscure ritual that is hardly ever seen there.

If I hadn't seen 'Once Were Warriors' I would never have seen a 'haka' except perhaps on some YouTube sports vid.

[Bettyboo]

That's possible, BB, but I would bet that there's been trouble in the stands before with provocation from the spectators, and the cops have learned the hard way that a quick crowd dispersal though (relatively) harmless means is sometimes the better way out (though they also might have been being assholes- I'm just speculating) __________________

That is one defence, mate, but it's not a one off, it seems to be time after time now by US police; this pattern of behaviour is damning... I think it was an ego thing; these big Tongan boys are intimidating, as is their 'dance', and the 'big strong policemen' wanted to show their superiority - it comes from insecurities - seems to be clear from the large policeman front and centre...

Yes, they should have known instinctively that it was a 'haka', a tribal warrior dance that originated on the other side of the Earth and not the prelude to some violent activity (which, actually, I believe is what it's really supposed to be

Well, that's what they're paid for; a lot of money is spent on their training; the US is a multicultural society and the police should be fully aware of the makeup of their immediate community, so they should know all of this. If these police are well trained professional law enforcement officers then they should be fully aware of this dance, the culture of these Tongans (this was not a one off event, as you pointed out...) and manage the vent for the sake of peace within the local community. The police abjectly failed in this task.

US police just seem to be violent yobs, as we have increasingly seen in the UK, being used as a kinda enforcement army style anti-riot squad rather than focusing on working with the community that they serve. This was not a violent shooting or murder - it was fun and culture at a local sporting event, the people around were laughing and having fun...

I could go on about the state of society and how the prisons and police seem to be a profit making exercise for big business (ever seen the Robocop movies...) rather than constructive elements within society, paid for by society to serve society, but I'll just get depressed...

[FailSafe]

Because one Tongan family lives in the community the police are supposed to study up on their culture and traditions? Come on.

I'm not saying the cops didn't make a mistake (they obviously did), but blocking an exit and refusing a lawful order to move out of the way (regardless of the dance you're doing, but especially when it's borne of aggression) is apt to be met with some sort of response.

[Bettyboo]

^ it's not a one off by the US police though, is it? It's time after time...

If you want a multicultural society (the American dream and all that); if you pay such massive amounts to train and equip the police; if you even bother sending police to these specific events - then they should have some knowledge...

[Marmite the Dog]

Or maybe if they weren't you typical ignorant Americans they would've known this, like nearly every other nation on Earth does.

You're the one making an ignorant comment here- there are no prominent New Zealand teams that compete in any sport in the States (we don't get regular appearances by the All-Blacks), and the 'haka' is not well-known at all in the US- it's an obscure ritual that is hardly ever seen there.

If I hadn't seen 'Once Were Warriors' I would never have seen a 'haka' except perhaps on some YouTube sports vid.

I'm not one of the insular, ignorant, uneducated red-neck retards that predominantly makes up the US Police Force.

You can try and defend the indefensible all you want, but it doesn't wash.

[FailSafe]

Yeah, a multi-cultural society, but one that can conform to some sort of social norm (and local laws) when there is a mix of cultures at one gathering- you can't block an exit in a public place- if the cops tell you to move out of the way, they are within their rights to do so- if you don't move, they are within their rights to act.

[FailSafe]

You can try and defend the indefensible all you want, but it doesn't wash.

Saying the 'haka' isn't well-known (when it clearly isn't) is 'indefensible'? You really are a nut at times.

[Marmite the Dog]

if the cops tell you to move out of the way, they are within their rights to do so- if you don't move, they are within their rights to act.

Surely if the cops did their jobs properly, they'd be a bunch of dead Tongans littering the pitch. That's the American Way™ isn't it?

[FailSafe]

Surely if the cops did their jobs properly, they'd be a bunch of dead Tongans littering the pitch. That's the American Way™ isn't it?

Really, Marmite, though you're capable of better (and often demonstrate that fact) the massive stick you've got stuck up your ass concerning the US colors your posts to such a degree they they're beyond laughable.

[Butterfly]

If I hadn't seen 'Once Were Warriors' I would never have seen a 'haka'

that's because you are American, you get your education through Hollywood and youtube,

[Marmite the Dog]

Surely if the cops did their jobs properly, they'd be a bunch of dead Tongans littering the pitch. That's the American Way™ isn't it?

Really, Marmite, though you're capable of better (and often demonstrate that fact) the massive stick you've got stuck up your ass concerning the US colors your posts to such a degree they they're beyond laughable.

Trying to knock me doesn't suddenly make the majority of Americans any less ignorant.

[Bettyboo]

This was a community event, not a criminal callout, so:

Good:



Bad:



Good:



Bad:



This was a kid's community event. There was no threat, no violence and no criminal activity...

[chitown]

A fight in the mix for sure!

[Humbert]

I'm sure there is a Mormon angle to the story. Maybe one of the cops had a divine revelation?