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Oct 6, 2009 9:20 pm US/Eastern
Use Of L-RAD On G-20 Demonstrators Draws Criticism
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
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During the G-20 Summit, advancing protestors on Penn Avenue were met with a mechanical voice emanating from a speaker atop a SWAT truck followed by a piercing sound – a high-pulsing shrill set just below levels that can cause permanent hearing damage.
KDKA
Police say it was a humane way to stop advancing demonstrators during the G-20 Summit, but protestors call L-RAD a frightening weapon.
During the G-20 Summit, advancing protestors on Penn Avenue were met with a mechanical voice emanating from a speaker atop a SWAT truck followed by a piercing sound – a high-pulsing shrill set just below levels that can cause permanent hearing damage.
The sound can be targeted at crowds and is intended to make them flee, according to City Emergency Management Director Ray DeMichiei.
"It's an area-denying device," he said. "In other words, where I point that and turn it on, people don't want to be."
Preparing for the G-20, the city and county purchase four L-RAD devices at a cost of just over $100,000 and kept them under wraps, catching the demonstrators off guard.
"Here we have now an introduction of what are essentially science fiction Star Wars-like machines to be used against people expressing their First Amendment rights," Albert Petrarca, an activist, said.
L-RAD is a weapon initially designed for military purposes and has apparently been used only a handful of times within the United States.
It has been deployed extensively in Iraq.
Petrarca is irate that it was used here.
"Dan Onorato and Mayor Ravenstahl decided to use Pittsburgh as guinea pigs," he said.
"Well you get into a situation here you're damned if you do and damned if you don't," DeMichiei said.
The city says when researching the L-RAD, they determined it to be a kinder, gentler way to rebuff demonstrators than other methods.
"You can push them through with a phalanx of officer with shields and batons, you can shoot gas at them, you can use OC vapor or maybe you make them feel a little uncomfortable and they leave under their own power," DeMichiei said.
With a pair of L-RAD devices each, the city and county say they will use them in the future when appropriate.
Despite its menacing sound, they say it's actually a humane way to go.
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