Gen Z Protests: Tear gas risks and how to protect yourself
Capital Feature
By
Faye Oruko
| Jul 03, 2024
Tear gas and pink coloured water cannons has been the main ploy police have been using to disperse Gen Z protesters across Kenya in the ongoing anti-government demos. Unbowed, Gen Zs have found a counter tactic, and it is working. They face the tear gas with knapsack sprayers like the ones used to spray farms with pesticides. This time round, the knapsack sprayers have been filled with water to spray off the effects of tear gas on the compatriots' faces.
They say necessity is the mother of invention. Some have even gone so far as to capture the canisters and hurl them back at the police, a risky yet defiant act of resistance. It's like a game of ping pong, or tennis with the police firing the teargas and then having it lobbed back by a protester.
Tear gas has become a ubiquitous tool in the arsenal of riot police dealing with protests. From Black Lives Matter protests in the US to the Arab
Spring that began in Tunisia, the billowing cloud of white gas has been a constant. The name teargas can be deceptive, its effect is more than just crying. But what exactly is this noxious substance and why has it become the go to crowd dispersal tool during protests?
Who invented tear gas?
Ben Corson and Roger Stoughton discovered teargas in 1928. It is a misnomer for irritant chemicals that provokes a stinging sensation on the eyes nose and throat. It comes in solid or liquid form, reacting with the moisture in our eyes, skin, and lungs to unleash a torrent of discomfort. These compounds such as Choreoacetephenone (CN) and Chlorobenzylidene Motile (CS) are designed to incapacitate individuals forcing them to retreat from the scene.
How teargas affects you
The effects of tear gas are immediate and unforgiving. Within seconds the eyes water profusely, vision blurs and the throat constricts making breathing a laborious task. The skin burs and reddens. For those with respiratory conditions, the consequences can be dire, potentially leading to hospitalisation.
Yet on July 2, the Gen Z protesters were undeterred by the sting having armed themselves with an array of protective measures. Donning the gas masks, sunglasses, and swimming goggles are used to protect them from the tear gas. Washing the face with water also helps.
Is it ethical?
But is the use of tear gas truly justified? Critics argue that it is a disproportionate response to the peaceful protest, a violation of the fundamental right to protest. They question whether dispersing crowds with such a volatile agent is fair and ethical, especially when the consequences can be severe, even life-threatening. The Geneva protocol of 1925 actually prohibits its use during interstate warfare.
As the battle between protesters and authorities rages on the debate surrounding the use of tear gas continues to simmer. The Gen Z activists armed with their protective gear and unwavering determination, stand firm in their conviction, challenging the very foundation of a system they believe to be unjust. The future will be shaped by this clash of ideals where the fiery scourge of tear gas meets the unyielding spirit of a generation unwilling to back down.