UF Student Tasered at Kerry Speech

[Bocaj Claw]

GAINESVILLE - U.S. Sen. John Kerry's speech at the University of Florida came to a dramatic close Monday, shortly after a vocal audience member was hauled off by police and shot with a Taser gun.

The audience member was preliminarily identified by UF officials as Andrew Meyer, a UF student in the College of Journalism and Communications.

Toward the conclusion of Kerry's UF forum, Meyer approached an open microphone at the University Auditorium and demanded Kerry answer his questions. The student claimed that University Police Department officers had already threatened to arrest him, and then proceeded to question Kerry about why he didn't contest the 2004 presidential election and why there had been no moves to impeach President Bush.

A minute or so into what became a combative diatribe, Meyer's microphone was turned off and officers began trying to physically remove him from the auditorium. Meyer flailed his arms, yelling as police tried to restrain him.

He was then pushed to the ground by six officers, at which point Meyer yelled, "What have I done? What I have I done? Get away from me. Get off of me! What did I do? ... Help me! Help."

Police threatened to user a Taser on Meyer if he did not "comply," but he continued to resist being handcuffed. He was then Tased, which prompted him to scream and writhe in pain on the floor of the auditorium.

After the incident, Capt. Jeff Holcomb of the UPD said Meyer had been charged with disrupting a public event and placed in the Alachua County Jail. Holcomb said there would be an investigation into whether the officers used force appropriately, adding that employing a Taser gun would only be justified in a case where there was a threat of physical harm to officers.

As Meyer was escorted away, he was followed by several students, including Matthew Howland, 20. Howland, a UF senior who said he didn't know Meyer, said he was "appalled" by the way UPD officers handled the situation. Howland acknowledged that Meyer had acted inappropriately by "rushing" the microphone and forcing a question on Kerry.

"It's a perfect example of when officers take something to a level that is not necessary," he said. "The officers escalated that situation."

Throughout the incident, Kerry urged the audience to "cool down" and acknowledged that Meyer had raised an important question. As officers escorted Meyer from the auditorium into the lobby, Kerry went on to explain that he did not think there was sufficient evidence of voter suppression to justify contesting the 2004 election.

"We just couldn't do it in good conscience because we didn't have that evidence," he said.

Youtube video

[Mista_B]

Free speech at a University?

In the USA?

Apparantly that's not allowed anymore.

Go American freedom pride, go.

Those cops should be arrested, and jailed each for attempted murder, contravention of an individual's first amendment rights, aggravated assault, and damaging the reputation of the police.

[Tom Flapwell]

Someone needs to remind the police that Tasers are "less deadly" weapons and that nothing short of life-threatening action on the arrestee's part should incite their use.

[Loeln]

Free speech at a University?

In the USA?

Apparantly that's not allowed anymore.

Go American freedom pride, go.

Those cops should be arrested, and jailed each for attempted murder, contravention of an individual's first amendment rights, aggravated assault, and damaging the reputation of the police.

Meyer approached an open microphone at the University Auditorium and demanded Kerry answer his questions. The student claimed that University Police Department officers had already threatened to arrest him, and then proceeded to question Kerry about why he didn't contest the 2004 presidential election and why there had been no moves to impeach President Bush.

A minute or so into what became a combative diatribe, Meyer's microphone was turned off

He used his Freedom of Speech and was allowed to, until he was preventing others from doing so by holding the mic for over a minute to preach/ask questions.

[Mista_B]

So uh, you're suggesting that an appropriate response to someone who's hogging a mic is for six armed police officers to hold him down and electrocute him?

You're, uh, a little twisted.

[Comrade K]

I agree with Loeln that the guy was out of line. He did need to be removed. However, unlike Loe, I don't have the compulsion to play devil's advocate all the time, and I definitely do not think that the way to go through with the removal was to use a taser on this student. That sets a dangerous precedent.

Seem's like soon, anything could get you tasered, at least in the US.

[Loeln]

So uh, you're suggesting that an appropriate response to someone who's hogging a mic is for six armed police officers to hold him down and electrocute him?

Notta; the police greatly overreacted to the kid, used unneccesary force, and should be charged for it. However, the guy was allowed to speak and say what he wanted before being asked to wrap it up; "He's been talking for two hours I think I can talk for two minutes" "So what's the question?"

When he still didn't take the hint, they cut the mic.

Then had him brought to the audience, as Kerry tried to answer the question.

Then it went too far.

[Rooster]

As I keep saying: America is pants up.

I of course, expect Loeln to now barrate me for that.

[Loeln]

As I keep saying: America is pants up.

QFT, albeit for differed reasons.

[Arloest]

Hell yes. This is awesome. All students who demand things too much should be tasered. In fact, they should all be tasered just for attending. It keeps them in line.

[Doc Sigma]

DON'T TAZE ME DUDE

[Holyman83]

Well if nothing else I'm sure he had a shocking experience.

[Spray]

DON'T TAZE ME DUDE

I think it's actually "Don't tase me, bro!".

[gforce422]

Well if nothing else I'm sure he had a shocking experience.

I'm sure it all happened as fast as lightning. Although I can't really blame the police, the dude was really conducting himself badly. These current times reall are electrifying.

...You know what the tasered guy probably asked the police upon regaining consciousness?

"Watts up, Ohms?"

*braces for impact*

[klimt]

Hell yes. This is awesome. All students who demand things too much should be tasered. In fact, they should all be tasered just for attending. It keeps them in line.

/me points to sig.


also:

"The tasered guy (hereafter refered to as Mr. Blueshirt) Entered the hall with 3-4 cops already in tow and barged in front of somebody asking a question. Sen. Kerry graciously extended the Q&A to answer Mr. Blueshirt's question. Instead of a question there was a lot of conspiracy goober accusations and the mic was cut. At this point the female cop next to him told him it was time to leave, Mr. Blueshirt became upset and started yelling, and then the female cop grabbed his arm and tried to escort him out along with another officer. Blueshirt pushed them away and ran towards the stage/mic at which point he got dogpiled by 4-6 officers. They told him to stop struggling or be tasered, he refused, he got tasered and cuffed.
"