VT (for all of my design-obsessed peeps)

photocourtesynytimes Peeps, Be afraid, be very afraid!! is a teaser line from some popular horror movie that could well describe the way I feel on viewing this image recently posted on the New York Times site.  How is it that in a democratic country such as the United States, ordinary citizens in the process of exercising first amendment rights, can so easily and quickly incur the wrath of the police.  I had been led to believe that protesting was a legitimate right, and guaranteed within one's constitutional right.  Recent events at Freedom Park prove otherwise; a line seems to have been drawn by some elected officials acting at the behest at unknown individuals (or corporations) who have decided that it's a them-versus-us scenario with the police standing at ready to dispel protesters through force, aided by batons/tear-gas/pepper-spray.  Looking at the image above, I wonder what could this young man have done to warrant numerous blows to the head by police...