NEW YORK -- In recent weeks, the repeated use of pepper spray by police officers against Occupy Wall Street protesters has elicited widespread criticism.
(CLICK HERE OR SCROLL DOWN FOR LATEST UPDATES)
Whether it's September's use of pepper spray against young demonstrators in New York's Union Square or last weekend's forceful confrontation with seated student protesters on the University of California, Davis campus, many critics have questioned the deployment of such tactics against a largely peaceful and nonviolent movement.
Meanwhile, in Seattle, a recent crackdown against Occupy protesters may have claimed its latest victim.
On Monday, The Stranger, a Seattle-based alternative weekly newspaper, reported that one Occupy Seattle protester allegedly suffered a miscarriage. She said police used pepper spray and hit her in the stomach.
"I was standing in the middle of the crowd when the police started moving in," Jennifer Fox, 19, told The Stranger. "I was screaming, 'I am pregnant, I am pregnant. Let me through. I am trying to get out.'"
Fox is reportedly homeless, living in the Occupy Seattle encampment in Westlake Park without a working cellphone.
The Stranger reported that immediately following last week's incident, Fox was rushed to the Harborview Medical Center in downtown Seattle, where Fox said doctors performed a routine ultrasound and didn't discover any cause for alarm.
But on Monday, after experiencing cramping and nausea, The Stranger reported that Fox returned to Harborview Medical Center, where she was later diagnosed as having suffered a miscarriage once the fetus' heartbeat was no longer detected.
As of Tuesday evening, Fox had neither provided medical records to substantiate her claim, nor filed a formal complaint with the Seattle Police Department.
But despite the lack of a formal complaint, a Seattle Police Department spokesman confirmed to HuffPost that police are launching a formal investigation into the matter.
"We are aware of a claim that a pregnant woman who attended the Nov. 15 Occupy Seattle march has been treated for a miscarriage," said the SPD spokesman. "Consistent with standard procedure, the Office of Professional Accountability has initiated an internal investigation to look into the matter further."
In the coming days, investigators will be actively searching for information to support Fox's claim, the spokesman confirmed.
Until more information is made available, Kathleen Taylor, executive director of the ACLU of Washington, told HuffPost that she remains troubled by what she perceives as an uptick of pepper spray use by members of law enforcement against the movement's protesters nationwide.
"The police have the authority to use force when it's necessary to prevent physical harm, but the use of pepper spray against non-violent protesters raises very serious questions," said Taylor, who highlighted the Seattle Police Department's policy of not using pepper spray and tasers as a first line of defense.
"We condemn police violence in other countries," Taylor said. "Let's first be sure our own house is in order."
UPDATE: 11/23 8:30 a.m. -- On Tuesday night, the Seattle Times raised further questions around whether Fox had indeed suffered a miscarriage.
In an interview at the Occupy Seattle encampment, the Seattle Times reports that while Fox said she had in her possession three ultrasound pictures of her unborn fetus, she refused to reveal them to members of the media.
The Seattle Times further reports that Fox indicated that she neither planned to retrieve her medical records nor planned to sign a waiver that would allow reporters to access such records independently.
In addition, Lark Stebbins, Fox's former foster mother of 10 years, said she had a prolonged history of exaggeration.
"My daughter is a compulsive liar," Stebbins told the Seattle Times. "She's a wannabe drama queen."
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.