The students are protesting it now. It will be interesting to see how this develops.
Tasered student nets worldwide attention
New Mexican wire services
September 18, 2007
Fracas at Kerry forum spurs controversy over free speech
GAINESVILLE, Fla. ââ¬â Andrew Meyer, the University of Florida student from Weston who tested the limits of free speech during an address Monday by U.S. Sen. John Kerry, walked out of jail Tuesday and into cyberspace history ââ¬â an instant, if likely fleeting, celebrity.
Video clips of his fracas with university police officers flashed around the world, viewed more than 400,000 times. Tens of thousands of people debated the issue on Web sites, including more than 700 people on MiamiHerald.com. The American Civil Liberties Union and Amnesty International USA rose to his support.
ââ¬ÅShocking someone who was seemingly little more than a nuisance? That belongs in the Ripleyââ¬â¢s of poor policing,ââ¬Â said Larry Cox, executive director of Amnesty International USA.
The degree to which Meyer, 21, was a nuisance or an opportunistic prankster ââ¬â and the magnitude of the police response ââ¬â stood at the center of the World Wide Web of discussion as he left jail, was hugged by his father and drove away in his lawyerââ¬â¢s sport-utility vehicle.
The charges: resisting an officer with violence and disturbing the peace by disrupting a school activity. His attorney said he would plead not guilty.
The bail: none ââ¬â he was released on his own recognizance and made no public comment.
The response: immediate and wide, starting on campus and racing around the world.
UF President J. Bernard Machen described the event as ââ¬Åregretfulââ¬Â and said two officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
ââ¬ÅWeââ¬â¢re absolutely committed to having a safe environment for our faculty and our students so that a free exchange of ideas can occur,ââ¬Â Machen said.
University police said in a news release that officers had been summoned by the forumââ¬â¢s sponsors to escort Meyer from the building, though organizers disputed that and said his microphone was cut off after he used a sexually explicit term.
Police added that Meyer was Tasered because he resisted when officers were attempting to place him in handcuffs. His lawyer, Robert Griscti, said it appeared Meyer was shocked after the cuffs were already on.
About 100 students gathered on campus Tuesday to plan protests, some wearing T-shirts denouncing police violence.
As the forum with Kerry came to a conclusion Monday, the Massachusetts Democrat agreed to answer a question from Meyer even though the Q&A period was supposed to be over.
Meyer launched into a lengthy, somewhat meandering series of questions that amounted to this:
Why did Kerry concede the 2004 presidential election? Why not impeach President Bush? Was Kerry a member of the same secretive society at Yale University as Bush?
Reminded he was to ask only one question, Meyer responded: ââ¬ÅHeââ¬â¢s talked for two hours. I think I can have two minutes.ââ¬Â
According to the official police report, Meyer was accompanied to the meeting by a woman who was there to film him and, as he took the microphone, he asked her: ââ¬ÅAre you taping this? Do you have this? You ready?ââ¬Â
The report also said that, after the arrest, Meyerââ¬â¢s ââ¬Ådemeanor completely changed once the cameras were not in sight. Meyer did ask, at one point, if the cameras were going to be at the jail.ââ¬Â
The Internet debate revolved around the relative balance between Meyerââ¬â¢s provocative behavior and the police response, with the majority of posters criticizing the officers.
ââ¬ÅIt was excessive force,ââ¬Â one person wrote on Facebook.com, the social networking site. ââ¬ÅThe Taser shouldnââ¬â¢t have been used.ââ¬Â
Others argued that Meyerââ¬â¢s actions were out of line and disruptive, and he got what he deserved.
ââ¬ÅThe kid was being obnoxious,ââ¬Â wrote another poster. ââ¬ÅHe had his chance to peacefully ask his question and not go into the tirade he went into.ââ¬Â
Kerry also came under criticism from people who thought he should have done more to take control of the situation and cool tensions.
During the encounter, as officers began grabbing Meyerââ¬â¢s arms, Kerry can be heard saying: ââ¬ÅThatââ¬â¢s all right; let me answer his question.ââ¬Â A little later, he offers again to answer Meyerââ¬â¢s ââ¬Åvery important question.ââ¬Â
On Tuesday, Kerry released a statement.
ââ¬ÅIn 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way.ââ¬Â Kerry said. ââ¬ÅI hope that neither the student nor any of the police were injured. I regret enormously that a good healthy discussion was interrupted.ââ¬Â
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