Michael Risher is a staff attorney with the A-C-L-U of Northern California. He says the report's finding that the pepper-spraying never should have happened is right on target. He says the "unusually frank" discussion is important as well:
Risher: "Not just because it shows what led up to the pepper spray incident. Not just because it lays forth steps to prevent that type of incident in the future, but because it really shows that our government needs transparency if it is going to function better."
But Risher says it's unfortunate the task force wasn't able to
include communications between the UC Office of the President and
UC Davis - or speak with some of the officers involved. The A-C-L-U
is representing 19 students and alumni in a lawsuit against UC
Davis and police officers involved in the event.