Last Monday, a group of protesters broke off from a massive demonstration to block traffic on the expressway. Police say they fired tear gas into the crowd after some people threw rocks at them and shook a state trooper’s vehicle while a trooper was inside.
A WHYY News/Billy Penn report found there was no evidence to support either of those explanations.
Police continued to use tear gas after protesters dispersed onto a steep embankment on the side of the highway, a decision that drew widespread criticism from activists and elected officials, including City Councilmember Helen Gym, who asked about the authorization during Wednesday’s hearing.
Abernathy said the city will conduct an “after-action analysis” of the use of tear gas and other less-than-lethal munitions during the recent protests, which have continued for nearly two weeks straight.