Student Tasered at Kerry Lecture

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by honeychile

I'm a bit surprised that no one has posted this before. The story is here.

The bottom line is that there was a question and answer forum, and FSU student Andrew Meyer had gone over his time limit. The police stepped in, an argument ensued, and he was tasered & arrested.

Granted, he was over his time limit, but I've never seen such a curtail of free speech before in my life!

Uh, did you watch the video?

It was clear that he wasn't interested in asking a question at all, and was using the mic as his own podium. He was properly shut down, then removed when he made a scene. I have no problems with that - this isn't a "free speech" issue at all, really, and to portray it as such really smacks of being inflammatory or reactionist.

The only real issue should be whether the kid should have been hit with a taser - that's an issue of use of force, unrelated to speech at all. We don't have nearly enough information to determine whether the force was excessive - the video is heavily edited, gives no indication of whether he is struggling, and only shows that he was not subdued or cooperating at all . . . draw your own conclusions there, but don't act like this was Tiananmen Square or firehoses at Kent State. Jesus Christ.

[Tom Earp]

As reported, he struggled with the campus police.

If he did get totally out of hand, sometimes it may be felt there was a need of extra force.

But if they could not subdue they have to make a moments judgement.

Being tasered will constrict the muscles and make the person totally unable to fight anymore.

Whether this was the case or not, I do not know, I was not there.

The right of freedom of speach? If there were limits set down they should be respected. It seems he was the more confrontational one first off.

[Kevin]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Uh, did you watch the video?

It was clear that he wasn't interested in asking a question at all, and was using the mic as his own podium. He was properly shut down, then removed when he made a scene. I have no problems with that - this isn't a "free speech" issue at all, really, and to portray it as such really smacks of being inflammatory or reactionist.

The only real issue should be whether the kid should have been hit with a taser - that's an issue of use of force, unrelated to speech at all. We don't have nearly enough information to determine whether the force was excessive - the video is heavily edited, gives no indication of whether he is struggling, and only shows that he was not subdued or cooperating at all . . . draw your own conclusions there, but don't act like this was Tiananmen Square or firehoses at Kent State. Jesus Christ.

I agree. The kid was acting like a douche. Sadly, he's a journalism major. I guess this video will be his ticket to work for the NYT.

[Kevlar281]

Here is the least edited vid I could find on youtube.

Oddly enough the best background information I have found on this kid has been over on college humor.

“Don’t taze me bro!” What a douche…

Here’s a vid of the aftermath. Apparently the kid is worried that the cops are going to kill him.

/edit: added another vid

[UGAalum94]

But don't you think there would be at least as much if not more "stifling-of-free speech" spin had it been a Bush or Cheney event, whether they had requested he be removed or not?

[Senusret I]

I think it's funny that he actually yelled "help!"

LMAO what a tool.

[Kevlar281]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

I think it's funny that he actually yelled "help!"

LMAO what a tool.

Right? I mean everyone knows that you’re supposed to yell fire when attempting to incite a riot.

[GeekyPenguin]

Originally Posted by UGAalum94

But don't you think there would be at least as much if not more "stifling-of-free speech" spin had it been a Bush or Cheney event, whether they had requested he be removed or not?

Well you need tickets to those, and "known liberals" aren't allowed in.

Not that they don't try.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Uh, did you watch the video?

It was clear that he wasn't interested in asking a question at all, and was using the mic as his own podium. He was properly shut down, then removed when he made a scene. I have no problems with that - this isn't a "free speech" issue at all, really, and to portray it as such really smacks of being inflammatory or reactionist.

While this is true, it pissed me off that Kerry's standing there saying "let him go, everyone calm down, I'd like to answer his questions," while they're dragging his ass outside for unknown reasons. Inciting a riot? Right. Yeah he's a douchey 21 year old but come on, I can't see the need for handcuffs and a taser when Kerry's standing on the stage willing to talk with this guy.

That other student taser video-I could see a reason for the eventual taser, but this one is just...ugh. If Kerry's willing to enter into discourse with the kid, I hardly see it as inciting a riot.
Of course that girl screeching in the background didn't help but I kind of felt the need to yell 'you guys are pigs' myself. Seriously, can't two big burly cops do the job? Did they need 5?

[KSig RC]

Originally Posted by AlexMack

While this is true, it pissed me off that Kerry's standing there saying "let him go, everyone calm down, I'd like to answer his questions," while they're dragging his ass outside for unknown reasons. Inciting a riot? Right. Yeah he's a douchey 21 year old but come on, I can't see the need for handcuffs and a taser when Kerry's standing on the stage willing to talk with this guy.

That other student taser video-I could see a reason for the eventual taser, but this one is just...ugh. If Kerry's willing to enter into discourse with the kid, I hardly see it as inciting a riot.
Of course that girl screeching in the background didn't help but I kind of felt the need to yell 'you guys are pigs' myself. Seriously, can't two big burly cops do the job? Did they need 5?

Sometimes they hit the taser to protect the kid from himself - if they're physically struggling, they can get much more seriously hurt than by being passive, and it's clear he was not cooperating.

Seriously, I'm not defending the campus cops - there were likely other methods they could have used, and we know almost nothing of the situation at all because even the best videos are pretty crappy - but yeah, there's a lot more going on here than a simple "yes/no" determination.

I think Kerry inadvertently made it worse by trying to be some sort of nice guy about it - the kid was making a scene, and while I'm glad Kerry wanted to answer about his time in the Skull & Bones, it's pretty superfluous and sort of dick to the rest of the crowd. This was pretty obviously calculated by Mr. Meyer, and I'm surprised Kerry's reaction was to diffuse it by prolonging the interaction.

[AlexMack]

Originally Posted by KSig RC

Sometimes they hit the taser to protect the kid from himself - if they're physically struggling, they can get much more seriously hurt than by being passive, and it's clear he was not cooperating.

Seriously, I'm not defending the campus cops - there were likely other methods they could have used, and we know almost nothing of the situation at all because even the best videos are pretty crappy - but yeah, there's a lot more going on here than a simple "yes/no" determination.

I think Kerry inadvertently made it worse by trying to be some sort of nice guy about it - the kid was making a scene, and while I'm glad Kerry wanted to answer about his time in the Skull & Bones, it's pretty superfluous and sort of dick to the rest of the crowd. This was pretty obviously calculated by Mr. Meyer, and I'm surprised Kerry's reaction was to diffuse it by prolonging the interaction.

I will agree with you on the calculated part, I was kinda wondering if he set it up so he could instigate whoever and see what happened, especially with his apparent history of recording his own practical jokes. I've never really been against tasers in my life, IDK, it just bugged me to see it used here for some reason. Guess that means I'm not a serial killer and don't enjoy watching people get hurt :P
You are right it is not a simple yes/no determination and freedom of speech certainly doesn't really come into it past cutting his mic

[Rudey]

Nobody in their right mind considers this an issue of free speech. Neither conservative nor liberal.

The idiots who want to politicize this and turn this into something it's not need to concentrate on senators that have gay sex in Minnesota bathroom stalls and have nothing to stand on given the current administration's full court press on free speech.

-Rudey