Occupy Cal Police Action Provokes National Response

Social Media is playing a major role in the national conversation about Wednesday's action on campus, when .

with batons prompted an outpouring of responses on Twitter and Facebook, and across America in the national media, from Rolling Stone Magazine to Reuters. Even Stephen Colbert had comments to make on his Comedy Central television show. “You know, when they said Berkeley is crunchy, I didn’t realize they meant the student’s rib cages," said Colbert in a segment about the police action on campus.

UC Berkeley police Capt. Margo Bennett defended police actions, telling the San Francisco Chronicle: ‎"The individuals who linked arms and actively resisted, that in itself is an act of violence."

But public response remains heated. UCPD's Facebook page is filled with negative comments, as people express anger and frustration at the hostile methods used during the day of action protest Wednesday.

"If UCPD considers linking arms as an act of violence, jabbing unarmed protesters with batons should be considered an atrocity," wrote one commenter.

"How can you possibly think you're in the right when so many people are disgusted by you from all across the globe?" wrote another commenter.

Responding to the actions at UC Berkeley as a civil rights issue, the non-profit organization BuyAmericanOrDie.com has formally requested of the Obama administration to send federal troops to protect protestors, beginning at UC Berkeley. The organization is encouraging citizens across the U.S. to call the White House switchboard at (202) 456-1414 and join the request.

The ongoing protest has remained relatively peaceful since Wednesday. Currently, demonstrators are in a stalemate with UC Berkeley administrators about the Occupy Cal encampment, according to the Daily Cal. Protesters decided in a general assembly meeting Thursday not to camp overnight. 

Search the #OccupyCal tag on Twitter to follow live updates and response, or visit the Daily Cal's live blog for a rundown of how the action unfolded.