Yes, they are:
https://emergency.cdc.gov/agent/riotcontrol/factsheet.asp![]() Information on terrorism and public health. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ![]() Information on terrorism and public health. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ![]() Information on terrorism and public health. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ![]() Information on terrorism and public health. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ![]() Information on terrorism and public health. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ![]() Information on terrorism and public health. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ![]() Information on terrorism and public health. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). ![]() Information on terrorism and public health. Provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
"Riot control agents (sometimes referred to as “tear gas”) are chemical compounds that temporarily make people unable to function by causing irritation to the eyes, mouth, throat, lungs, and skin."
"Riot control agents are used by law enforcement officials for crowd control and by individuals and the general public for personal protection (for example, pepper spray)."
From eyewitness:
https://www.facebook.com/gini.gerbasi/posts/10157575422089624 Gini Gerbasi Friends, I am ok, but I am, frankly shaken. I was at St. John's, Lafayette Square most of the afternoon, with fellow clergy and laypeople - and clergy... Gini Gerbasi Friends, I am ok, but I am, frankly shaken. I was at St. John's, Lafayette Square most of the afternoon, with fellow clergy and laypeople - and clergy...
Around 6:15 or 6:30, the police started really pushing protestors off of H Street (the street between the church and Lafayette Park, and ultimately, the White House. They started using tear gas and folks were running at us for eyewashes or water or wet paper towels. At this point, Julia, one of our seminarians for next year (who is a trauma nurse) and I looked at each other in disbelief. I was coughing, her eyes were watering, and we were trying to help people as the police - in full riot gear - drove people toward us...
Suddenly, around 6:30, there was more tear gas, more concussion grenades, and I think I saw someone hit by a rubber bullet - he was grasping his stomach and there was a mark on his shirt...
I was so stunned I only got a few water bottles and my spray bottle of eyewash. We were literally DRIVEN OFF of the St. John's, Lafayette Square patio with tear gas and concussion grenades and police in full riot gear. We were pushed back 20 feet, and then eventually - with SO MANY concussion grenades - back to K street.
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