With repect to the student protests, the big argument in Los Angeles right now is whether or not the police should be allowed protective gear during muslim protests.
http://www.stoptheaclu.com/2009/01/2...orn-for-riots/
Out of fear that protective helmets would only anger the protesters, the police were denied helmets. One officer was struck in the head and hospitalized.
The controversy is not helped by regulations that police horses are provided protective eye gear. The pro palestinian protesters always go for the eyes of the horses and try to blind them.