Chicago police are preparing to use Long Range Acoustic Devices (LRAD) on protesters during the G-8/NATO Summit.
LRAD devices
send sounds, warnings and tones that are painful to the human ear. The use of
LRAD devices are controversial. According to the ACLU of Pennsylvania, a
bystander during the Pittsburgh protests in 2009 has sued the city of Pittsburgh
for hearing loss and pain resulting from the use of LRAD.
The summit
begins in Chicago on May 20 and will last several days. Protesters are expected
to turn out in large numbers. Chicago police say they will attempt to learn from
the Pittsburgh police's handling of protests at the G20 Summit in 2009, where
LRAD machines were used as well.
Chicago Police
say they do have an LRAD available for use. It sends out live or recorded
messages in a narrow sound beam. So you can hear the messages with clarity
several hundred yards away. Police say that is how they intend to use it -- as a
communications tool. But it is also equipped to emit those high-frequency alarm
tones. Common Dreams
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