To follow up on the article on “Pepper Spray and the Modern Lexicon of ‘Less than Lethal’ Oppression” (Artvoice, “Getting a Grip,” v10n50), a local political case involving pepper spray is set for trial early next month.

Back in April (prior to Occupy Wall Street), Nate Buckley was brutalized and sprayed with mace (while restrained) by NFTA police during a protest at M&T Bank in downtown Buffalo. The whole incident was captured on a cellphone camera and a short documentary about the incident has gotten over 50,000 views online. Buckley has been featured on international television regarding the incident and has gotten considerable sympathy from the local press. Two other protesters are facing lessor charges after being pulled out of a crowd that was reacting with indignation over Buckley’s treatment.

After eight months of pretrial hearings, the case is going before a jury in Buffalo City Court (50 Delaware Ave.) beginning at 9am on Monday, January 9, in Part 6.

> Leslie James Pickering, Buffalo

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