I want to explain what pepper spray is before I launch into posts about it’s use as a chemical weapon against peaceful protesters, protesting for Occupy Wall Street, protesting for the 99%, and America’s not-too-distant history of protests.

Pepper spray is an internationally illegal chemical weapon. We couldn’t use it against foreign soldiers in war. Our State Department railed against other governments using tear gas and pepper spray on their own citizens during the Arab Spring. So what do we do? We use it against our own people during Occupy. But I digress…

The following video explains what the hot stuff in pepper is (capsaicin), how hotness is measured (Scoville units), a chart to compare the various hotness of peppers we’re familiar with, and how capsaicin can harm us over time when it gets in our eyes and respiratory systems. (8.5 min):

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To review, the capsaicin bonds with pain receptors and causes extreme pain, and capsaicin is mildly corrosive and causes chemical burns. All burns, heat or chemical, cause scarring of the tissue that is burned. Being sprayed in the eyes many times will eventually cause permanent blurring of vision from corrosive damage to cornea cells. Inhaling pepper spray causes chemical burns to the nose, mouth, throat, and lungs. Burns cause scarring, and those scars will cause any respiratory, sinus, or eye problems to become worse.

Keep the Scoville unit chart in mind whenever you see pepper spraying occurring, and whenever you are working with hot peppers in the kitchen.

Photo Credit: The Maddow Blog

I’ve gotten jalapeno pepper juice in my eyes chopping them in the kitchen, and cayenne pepper in my eyes after failing to thoroughly wash my hands and clean under my nails after eating boiled crawfish. We put lots of cayenne in the boil. It burns like crazy, and I was crying and splashing water into my face holding my eyes open for at least 30 minutes.

For those who haven’t gotten pepper in their eyes, a jalapeno is about as bad as a very strong onion, but the pain from onions goes away much faster and doesn’t cause permanent harm. The chemicals in onions form sulfuric acid with your tears and that’s what burns. But because it’s a vapor mixed with air it’s a very small dose compared to peppers and pepper spray. You actually have to get pepper physically into your eyes for it to burn.

Protesters out there, be careful about putting yourself in the line of pepper spray fire multiple times. It can have long-term negative health effects to your eyes and respiratory system. If you’ve been pepper-sprayed recently, you might want to take some time away from the line where the spraying is being done and give your body time to heal. I know there is plenty to do besides getting sprayed and arrested.

Please ask any questions you may have about the science of peppers and pepper spray in the comments and I’ll answer them. I may have to do some research for some questions, but I’m willing to do so. Thanks for reading.

Technorati Tags: capsaicin, hot peppers, Occupy Movement, Occupy Wall Street, Pepper Spray, Scoville unit

I am ecstatic to report that the Catherine Ferguson Academy for Young Women of Detroit has been snatched from the jaws of defeat!

A charter company the school worked with in the past took on the school and plans to keep it as it is, but provide more funding and assistance to improve and expand the mission of the school.

The planned protest turned into a celebration.

Rachel Maddow interviews Ms. G. Asenath Andrews, principal of CFA (9 min):

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Ms. Andrews will continue as principal of the charter school.

I couldn’t be happier to tell you this news. The good guys won against all odds. We as a country won because these young mothers will continue on the path to graduation, college, and life success.

This school is vital in breaking the generational poverty cycle. These young women come to CFA in abject poverty. When they leave, they have taken the hand up and worked their way to college.

If I ever win the lottery or become wealthy, I plan to get involved with CFA and bring a school to south Louisiana. I’ve got to learn how to start a non-profit foundation, and I’ll call it the Catherine Ferguson Academy Foundation.

Technorati Tags: Asenath Andrews, Catherine Ferguson Academy

The Catherine Ferguson Academy for Girls in Detroit, which I wrote about in April here, is scheduled to close next Friday, June 17, 2011. A big rally will be held next Thursday, June 16 at the school.

We must stop this! I need your to spread the word far and wide, and contact any celebrities you know for help.

Contact the ACLU Michigan chapter to petition them to file a stay in court to prevent the school closure.

ACLU of Michigan
Executive Director: Kary Moss, Esq.
2966 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, MI 48201
Phone: (313) 578-6800 Fax: (313) 578-6811
Email: aclu@aclumich.org
Web: http://www.aclumich.org

In my opinion, closing this special needs school is a direct violation of these students’ civil rights. The federal government requires all public school districts provide for the special needs of all their students. These students have special needs.

Tell everyone you know about this and call or write to the emergency manager in Detroit who is closing the school here:

Roy S. Roberts
Emergency Manager
14th Floor, Fisher Building
3011 West Grand Blvd.
Detroit, MI 48202
United States Phone: (313) 870-3772
Fax: (313) 870-3726

Call the Detroit Public school system here:

Phone: (313) 240-4DPS or (313) 240-4377

Rachel Maddow covered this story last night on her show. The interview with Principal Andrews is gut-wrenching. We the people must act now to stop this closure.

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If you have ideas on actions people can take, please post them on this Maddow Blog post. This post is being used as a resource and activism page to help CFA stay open. (You must get a Newsvine account to post).

If you don’t have a Newsvine account or don’t want to post to The Maddow Blog yourself, please leave your comments here and let me know if you want them reposted to the Maddow Blog. I am happy to do this for you; I’ll do anything I can to help these students.

Technorati Tags: Asenath Andrews, Catherine Ferguson Academy, civil rights, high school graduation