Occupy protesters called 'anti-American'

GURNEE, Ill., Nov. 21 (UPI) -- Members of the nationwide Occupy protests are "anti-American" and that includes veterans who join the protesters, Rep. Joe Walsh, R-Ill., said.

Speaking at a town hall meeting in Gurnee, Ill., Saturday Walsh said protesters were "generally spoiled, pampered, unfocused, clueless young people, and a smattering of other people who don't understand this country and are advocating anti-American solutions," KMOX-TV, St. Louis, reported.

When asked if veterans taking part in the Occupy Wall Street protests were anti-American, Walsh said, "Yes."

In California, University of California, Davis, students and faculty demonstrated against the use of pepper spray against protesters by university police last week.

The president of the University of California system ordered a review of the system's security practices in the wake of the incident.

Mark G. Yudos said he was "appalled" by the incident and promised a review of police procedures at all 10 UC campuses, the Los Angeles Times reported.

UC Davis placed Police Chief Annette Spicuzza, who had initially defended her officers' action, on administrative leave Monday.

The move by Chancellor Linda P.B. Katehi came less than a day after she put two UC Davis police officers on leave.

"As I have gathered more information about the events that took place on our Quad on Friday, it has become clear to me that this is a necessary step toward restoring trust on our campus," Katehi said in a statement.

Katehi has resisted calls by some UC Davis faculty members for her to resign.

"My voice is stronger than your pepper spray," signs carried by students during Monday's protest read. Protesters chanted: "Whose university is it? Our university!"

"We were just kids sitting down in a circle singing. Someone yelled pepper spray, and I closed my eyes, and at that point I entered a world of pain," David Vischo, 22, told the crowd, adding, "I want take back our university brick by brick. But we'll will do it with dignity."

In Oakland, Calif., the last Occupy encampment was cleared out early Monday. Protesters said police showed up shortly after midnight and they were ordered to leave.

The campers did so peacefully and there were no reports of arrests or clashes with police, the San Francisco Chronicle reported.

Also in California, a small group of Occupy San Jose protesters gathered in front of the home of City Manager Debra Figone, who they blame for refusing to give them a permit to camp at City Hall.

"You kick us out of our home, we are going to come to your home," protester Shaun O'Kelly told the San Jose Mercury News.

City spokesman Tom Manheim said that the city doesn't allow camping at City Hall and cannot issue a permit to camp there.

In Colorado Springs, Colo., police disbanded the Occupy protest site at the city's Acacia Park overnight, taking down tarp-covered structures after the city denied protesters an extension of their permit to "occupy" an adjacent street corner.

No arrests were made during the clean-up, which began when officers informed protesters Sunday night their permit would not be renewed, The (Colorado Springs) Gazette reported.