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New Contender for Best 'Occupy' Photo

Female protester in Oregon takes pepper spray in the face

By John Johnson,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 18, 2011 6:29 PM CST

(Newser) – When an 84-year-old woman got pepper-sprayed in the face at Occupy Seattle, it seemed like an easy winner for "iconic" Occupy photo. Not so fast: Photographer Randy Rasmussen of the Portland Oregonian snapped an image yesterday of a young woman also taking a blast of pepper spray directly in the face, and it's become an Internet sensation. The LA Times thinks the Occupy Portland photo "is destined to become an enduring image of the national movement."

The protester in this case is 20-year-old Elizabeth Nichols, who promptly vomited and then got arrested on trespassing charges. The Atlantic has more background on her and on the photo itself, and KGW interviewed Nichols upon her release from jail. Photographer Rasmussen, meanwhile, explains how the photo came to be here.

A police officer uses pepper spray on Occupy Portland protester Elizabeth Nichols Thursday.
A police officer uses pepper spray on Occupy Portland protester Elizabeth Nichols Thursday.   (AP Photo/The Oregonian, Randy L. Rasmussen)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 79 comments
Barack_Must_Go
Nov 20, 2011 12:08 PM CST
Whoever is the weekend person/people here at Newser need to get a life. I'm going to call Seth in the morning to set your ___ straight. Just becuse the ' usual suspects ' troll - a - thon of sissies, are just that , sissies, you are suppose to employ some self control, which obviously you cannot.     
Barack_Must_Go
Nov 20, 2011 5:52 AM CST
Danial Tosh is going to have a field day with these liberal democrat ' Occupy This ' moron photos next season. Lets put 20 seconds on the clock.... http://tosh.comedycentral.com/video-clips/20-seconds-on-the-clock---kids-grinding
Barack_Must_Go
Nov 20, 2011 5:23 AM CST
As they say, "Stupid is as liberal democrats do".  Banana anyone
 

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