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The problem with tear gas

  • Matilda
  • Jul 16, 2020
  • 3 min read

Updated: Jul 27, 2020

July 16, 2020

intro

In recent months, you've probably heard a lot about tear gas. Its controversial use in Black Lives Matter protests across the United States has received national (and even international) media attention. If you think back to the summer of 2019, you'll remember that tear gas was used in the major Hong Kong pro-democracy protests, too. It's a tool used by many police forces to control large numbers of people, often at protests--even peaceful ones. Although tear gas is classified as a "riot control agent," it is widely used on peaceful protesters across the globe. In recent years, the people of the United States and Canada have condemned tear gas's use in protests in other countries. We used to celebrate the fact that we lived in a society where this chemical weapon was not widely used on people exercising their right to freedom of assembly. Unfortunately, we no longer have cause for celebration.

As of June 18, protesters had been tear-gassed in one hundred American cities.

Let that sink in.

Thousands of people in American cities have been attacked by their own police force with a chemical weapon. The very human rights violation they had been protesting was perpetrated against them. Thousands of people, standing up for basic rights--something that shouldn't be a controversial issue.


what is it?

Tear gas contains CS, a chemical made of chlorine, hydrogen, nitrogen, and carbon. This is the compound that causes the severe irritation and difficulty breathing that people experience when they're exposed to it. This chemical mixture, in powder form, is installed inside a canister with a propellant and other mechanisms. Watch this video to learn more about how tear gas works.

Tear gas was first used in World War I by French troops against the Germans. After years of its use in forcing soldiers out of trenches and into gunfire, its use in warfare was banned in a 1925 Geneva Protocol. But the fact that it was illegal in international war didn't stop its appeal to countries facing internal turmoil, and tear gas started to be used against riots, protests, and uprisings. Here's a more detailed history.


why is it being used?

Tear gas is used on peaceful protesters when police forces feel threatened. Governments let it continue happening when they think that by doing this, they are gaining something.

Donald Trump is one of the most controversial presidents in U.S. history. He knows this, and he also knows that he isn't likely to get many people on his side who aren't already Trump supporters. Because of this, it isn't in his interest to do anything that his opinionated voter base would remotely disapprove of. And most of his voter base seems to like Black Lives Matter protesters being tear-gassed.


why does this matter?

Although tear gas is described by many sources as a "less-lethal" weapon, the emphasis should be placed on the word less. Tear gas is known to cause serious physical effects in one in 15 people, and can cause permanent organ damage in people with preexisting health conditions like asthma. Tear gas has both blinded and killed innocent people, with and without health conditions. It's true that this chemical weapon is not as lethal as actual fired bullets, but is that really where we should set the bar for measures against peaceful protests?


in conclusion...

Tear gas was invented to force soldiers to their deaths. Since then, it has been banned in warfare by international law, but somehow is still used around the world on protestors exercising their rights to assembly and free speech. Suppression of peaceful protests is suppression of the voices of the people. Since the United States was literally founded on the concept of democracy, this attempt at mass silencing is concerning, to say the least.


sources

Cover image: Texidor/Unsplash


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