Pepper Spray of Justice

Ever since I was little I have always been interested in controversial cases that I see in the news and online. One case that came to mind when i was thinking of what I should blog about this week. In my hometown of Saratoga Springs there was a very odd case that was something I have never seen before. Adam Rupeka a man from Troy New York decided to drive past the Saratoga police station and give an officer the finger as he drove by. 

In this video Nathan Baker a member of the Saratoga Springs Police Department sprays pepper spray into Adam Rupeka's eyes. Rupeka decided that he wanted to test his first amendment right by giving Baker the finger while driving by. I personally think that after researching this incident and watching this video that Rupeka absolutely deserved it. But in his defense through the first amendment he had every right to do it. After his decision to give the finger to Baker he refused to comply in anyway eventually forcing Baker to pepper spray him.

The Huffington Post published an article after the fact giving a summary of what happened. The Saratoga Police Department ended up paying Rupeka $50000 for being arrested and pepper sprayed unconstitutionally.

Solitary Confinement for Juveniles

In late January President Obama passed new laws banning the use of solitary confinement on juveniles. Before the ban of solitary confinement some juveniles were spending time alone in their cells usually without any contact for over twenty hours a day sometimes more. According to Washingtonpost.com Obama tells of the possible devastating psychological consequences that these juveniles face when put in solitary confinement for long periods of time. Some effects of solitary confinement on juveniles according to American Civil Liberties Union(ACLU) include anxiety, rage and insomnia among many others.


I agree with with President Obama on banning solitary confinement for juveniles. Through the articles I have read it is clear that there is not a real need for it and it can have crippling effects on the person which are not needed. In the article Growing Up Locked Down by the ACLU there are many interviews with juveniles who were once in solitary confinement. Many of these young men and women do things to relieve their pain including self-harm and suicide attempts. Others have trouble with the small space they have saying they feel trapped which they are. According to the ACLU most suicides are while the inmate is in solitary confinement.

Many juveniles have been in solitary confinement for many different reasons but not only me, others also believe that confinement does more harm than good. Many states even before the banning of solitary confinement for juveniles had begun to regulate and completely stop the solitary confinement for people under eighteen. 

Church and State

On September 8th 2014 the the internet news site Newser released an article about a pilot for the United States Air Force that crossed out "so help me God" on the papers he had to sign to join. According to the Air Force the airman had until November 14th 2014 to sign the paper. However, according to Newser the airmans lawyer said "the Air Force cannot compel anyone to swear to God as a condition of enlistment". Soon after the lawyer then went on to say it was a violation of the First Amendment.

I believe this is absolutely a First Amendment case. It makes sense that it is a First Amendment case because the airman was using his right freedom from religion which is shown by crossing out so help me God on his contract. There is supposed to be a seperation of church and state and by having this seperation there is no reason why he should have to sign something like that.