While it’s fairly easy to get your hands on pepper spray, this small self-defense tool should never be underestimated. One ICE supporter learned that lesson the hard way after ending up spraying herself directly in the eyes. The painful twist? No one attacked her, she managed to do it all on her own. At a protest in Portland, Oregon, the woman got into a heated verbal argument with a group of protesters. At one point, she claimed to feel threatened and pulled out a can of pepper spray, warning the protesters to back off. The protesters, however, kept their distance and instead questioned why she was even there, given her combative behavior. In response, she loudly declared that she was there to support ICE.
The tension escalated when a protester, off camera, appeared to take a step closer. The ICE supporter immediately interpreted that as a threat and hastily tried to spray them. Unfortunately for her, the spray didn’t hit her intended target, it hit her own face. Within moments, the burning effects set in. Though she initially tried to act tough, it quickly became obvious that something was wrong. The Portland woman rubbed at her eyes in growing pain while those around her began to notice.
Despite her earlier hostility, some protesters surprisingly showed concern. One Portland woman even tried to check on her, asking if she was okay. But the ICE supporter couldn’t handle the pain and soon demanded that the protesters call an ambulance for her. The video documenting the incident ended shortly afterward, leaving it unclear whether anyone actually helped her.
Online, the reaction was swift and merciless. Many internet users mocked her blunder. “I love how she pepper sprayed herself and then tries to block it. The reflexes of mashed potatoes,” one commenter joked. Others were shocked by how compassionate the protesters had been toward someone who had just tried to harm them. “She intended to cause harm to others, ends up harming herself, and is immediately met with empathy. These people never do the same. Personally, I would have let her suffer,” another user remarked.
Some were especially critical of the woman’s demands. Rather than taking responsibility and calling for medical help herself, she insisted that the very people she targeted should do it for her. Commenters found the audacity almost unbelievable. “‘Get an ambulance or I’m going to call the cops’ at the end. Dumbest human. The people dealing with her and offering help are saints, no way I’d be so kind,” one viewer wrote.
