Since when is "police fire tear gas at protesters" even worth discussing?

[howard112211]

Reads to me sort of like "firemen use water on burning building".

A major protest in any developed nation where no tear gas, pepper spray
or clubs were used would be a rare event.

But somehow people here are managing to turn such a thing into an anti-Chavez smear.

[cali]

1. every time police use tear gas on protesters it's dicussed and widely

denounced here. just do a search.

[Historic NY]

2. Rubber bullets would really make them howl.

[howard112211]

3. All I am saying this is no particular indicator of Venezuela's democracy.

All sorts of shit happens at protests in countries which are inarguably democratic ("western style").

[cali]

4. no, that wasn't all you were saying.

you're right. people are using it to hammer on hugo, but as I pointed out it's discussed virtually every time it happens.

[howard112211]

5. Yesterday I was on my way home and walked past some students who were coming from a protest.

I asked them how it went. They were pretty cheerful and replied "Went pretty well. Only a few shots of tear gas and one of two club beatings. No arrests."

Seems like most student's protests I have been to involved someone getting tear gassed. Usually the "black block" types were the receiving ones.