Regarding #2: Then I suppose the protesters have the subject matter for their next demonstration. I would like to see this subject be turned into a big issue, as was the handling of cameras and video recorders in recent years.

If my friends caused the police and fire departments to waste so many resources and disrupted so much that could have been avoided by GETTING OUT OF THE TREE, (just leave the sign up there!) then I think I'd have little to say in their defense.

The police are trained to disarm the situation and end it without causing injury to themselves, foremost. When leaving the girl in the tree is not an option, having her leave of her own accord is refused, then they used the options that they are available to them. You may know that the girl had no violent intentions towards the officers who were sent to remove her. They don't have the luxury to assume any of that.

Yes, the police can overreact. It's a good thing that these cops didn't in her case.

I tend to agree that arrests for swearing aren't appropriate but the threats being made at the police weren't either.

There are predictable consequences in these confrontations and I believe the people involved were smart enough to know where the line was. I don't understand how they didn't expect a confrontation like what occurred.