Kerry: Didn't know cops were Tasering student

It's really pathetic. I think it's completely police's fault. These cops should be released from their duty. There shouldn't be people like that having such powers over other people.

It's such a shame when you see six cops doing something like that to one 21 year old young kid.

and still we say Freedom of speech.

"this incident constitutes an outrageous display of overreaction brought about by inexperience and a complete lack of oversight and control. The cops were more out of control than the unruly student here and six cops should easily have been able to take this student into custody."

This is the crux of the issue, people. The police overreacted, and actually made the protester seem sympathetic in the process.

Our basic Constitutional rights hang be a thread against a seemingly endless onslaught from the Republican Party with collusion from the mainstream media. They are chipping away at the core of what makes this the greatest nation on Earth, and yet it is ironically the loudest, flag-wavingest "patriots" who applaud this move towards 1984.

The 14 Defining
Characteristics Of Fascism
Free Inquiry
Spring 2003
5-11-3

Dr. Lawrence Britt has examined the fascist regimes of Hitler (Germany), Mussolini (Italy), Franco (Spain), Suharto (Indonesia) and several Latin American regimes. Britt found 14 defining characteristics common to each:

1. Powerful and Continuing Nationalism - Fascist regimes tend to make constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs, and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, as are flag symbols on clothing and in public displays.

2. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights - Because of fear of enemies and the need for security, the people in fascist regimes are persuaded that human rights can be ignored in certain cases because of "need." The people tend to look the other way or even approve of torture, summary executions, assassinations, long incarcerations of prisoners, etc.

3. Identification of Enemies/Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause - The people are rallied into a unifying patriotic frenzy over the need to eliminate a perceived common threat or foe: racial , ethnic or religious minorities; liberals; communists; socialists, terrorists, etc.

4. Supremacy of the Military - Even when there are widespread domestic problems, the military is given a disproportionate amount of government funding, and the domestic agenda is neglected. Soldiers and military service are glamorized.

5. Rampant Sexism - The governments of fascist nations tend to be almost exclusively male-dominated. Under fascist regimes, traditional gender roles are made more rigid. Divorce, abortion and homosexuality are suppressed and the state is represented as the ultimate guardian of the family institution.

6. Controlled Mass Media - Sometimes to media is directly controlled by the government, but in other cases, the media is indirectly controlled by government regulation, or sympathetic media spokespeople and executives. Censorship, especially in war time, is very common.

7. Obsession with National Security - Fear is used as a motivational tool by the government over the masses.

8. Religion and Government are Intertwined - Governments in fascist nations tend to use the most common religion in the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion. Religious rhetoric and terminology is common from government leaders, even when the major tenets of the religion are diametrically opposed
to the government's policies or actions.

9. Corporate Power is Protected - The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist nation often are the ones who put the government leaders into power, creating a mutually beneficial business/government relationship and power elite.

10. Labor Power is Suppressed - Because the organizing power of labor is the only real threat to a fascist government, labor unions are either eliminated entirely, or are severely suppressed.

11. Disdain for Intellectuals and the Arts - Fascist nations tend to promote and tolerate open hostility to higher education, and academia. It is not uncommon for professors and other academics to be censored or even arrested. Free expression in the arts and letters is openly attacked.

12. Obsession with Crime and Punishment - Under fascist regimes, the police are given almost limitless power to enforce laws. The people are often willing to overlook police abuses and even forego civil liberties in the name of patriotism. There is often a national police force with virtually unlimited power in fascist nations.

13. Rampant Cronyism and Corruption - Fascist regimes almost always are governed by groups of friends and associates who appoint each other to government positions and use governmental power and authority to protect their friends from accountability. It is not uncommon in fascist regimes for national resources and even treasures to be appropriated or even outright stolen by government leaders.

14. Fraudulent Elections - Sometimes elections in fascist nations are a complete sham. Other times elections are manipulated by smear campaigns against or even assassination of opposition candidates, use of legislation to control voting numbers or political district boundaries, and manipulation of the media. Fascist nations also typically use their judiciaries to manipulate or control elections.

The only one of these that is not immediately applicable to today's United States of America is "rampant sexism," though with the language and tone of attacks against Senator Clinton, I wouldn't immediately discount that one either.

"First They Came"

"When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out."

"Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
Benjamin Franklin
1759

Ok so why didn't Kerry answer the 3 questions?

My arse he didn't know he was getting tazered. This is Nazi Germany not the USA.

Sure he didn't know. If he did, he would not admit it anyway. BS in action.

"THE MOUNTIES ARE COMING, THE MOUNTIES ARE COMING"

It appears that White House Staffers and GOP commities were not the only one to get George Bush Crowd control methods when it comes to elections.

Now the DNC Looks like the villain. CAN YOU SPELL OJ, OF COURSE, BUT CAN YOU SPELL SET UP? I think the guy was a plant, and the question was not only to be asked but answered. Not! Skull and Bones, Bush is not in Iraq, he is AWOL from his Presidential Duties but thats all. Skull and Bones are in Iraq. We just got back the body bags to prove it.

We will survive this but where is the Freedom of Speech other than on the Internet?

It is good for young america to see their plight in american politics and politics in their daily lives. It is only going get better or worse, depending on how you at it.

LONG LIVE NANCY PELOSI!

Mr. Kerry, YOU HAVE LOST OUR VOTE AND HOPEFULLY EVERYONE AT OUR CAMPUS HERE IN FLORIDA!

The police beat up citizens all the time and then make-up resisting arrest excuses. Talk to any lawyer who does criminal work and they will tell you that the television police officers - beating up suspects - is making its way to the every day police. Why was this young man getting arrested??? We have freedom of speech in this country - whether the politicians want it or not. This is an outrage - Every one of those polices officers should be fired. They had no legal right to arrest, detain or stop the young man from speaking. We are getting more like Nazi Germany every day - where our own president says that if you do not support him you are not a true American - This makes me so mad - I am so upset that other Americans care so little for their liberties - that others died for - and for which we say we want for other countries- that the other people -being afraid of the police - just sat there and did nothing. These police officers need to be fired and then sued.

Tell your federal reps (Congresspeople and Senators) to drop all funding of ANYTHING (research, buildings, etc) at the University of Florida to protest this attack on a student which probably used equipment purchased with federal money. I live in Illinois and will be doing this,

I am so damn mad I am spitting nails and ready for a confrontation in this country with the goddamn police state we are becoming! I am the most conservative sob in the world and believe in the cops, but these damn people have absolutely gone frigging nuts with their Tasers...I am Pissed with a capital P on the sob's that use those killing weapons...If you watched the video, then you tell me why it was necessary to use a taser when four cops had him on the floor and easliy subdued......I am going to make the rest of this old man's life devoted to stopping this bullshit!
Whatever happened to a billy club up side the head!
You young rookie cops are beating up on misdemeanor people and killing them...It has to stop!

Senator Kerry, you need to come out stronger than your current statement. Were you assaulted by the police when you made your constitutionally protected, but unpopular speeches during your war?

More evidence of the FL Republican-controlled Nazi state. These individuals wearing the uniform should be prosecuted for assault and human rights violation and fired in disgrace.

What do you expect from local authorities when the President and his cronies practice the same strong-arm tactics?

A lot of people are failing to observe what really happened in the video. Look at the far right in the first several seconds. Look not at Meyer, but at the cops who are poised to pounce on him. There is a guy in a dark suit with them. Watch this guy, he looks past the camera and gestures to someone to cut off the mic the instant Meyer says the words "skull & bones"! BLATANT CENSORSHIP.

They then cut off the mic, and the instant they do, Meyer gives up, backs away from the mic. He stops making a scene. But at that very same instant, the cops move in and grab him. Therefore, anyone arguing that they grabbed him *because he kept ranting after the mic was cut off* is dead wrong (or LYING).

Also, it is critical to note that the cops had not placed Meyer under arrest nor warned him in any way---they simply grabbed him. That is illegal conduct on the cops' part. That's assault.

America is in deep sh*t.

How the hell would "telling federal reps to drop all funding of ANYTHING at the University of Florida" be a legitimate or helpful protest against the police? It would just hurt students. I am a student at UF who opposes the police actions taken against Meyer, but withholding funding to the school is a damn horrible idea.

NIce thing about those cops being in Florida - it's easy to send them to Gitmo to taser "enemies of the state".

`they sat and watched as one of their own was devoured... so these are the effects of the last eight years,a nation of cows & cayotes

AP, I noticed the guy in the suit, too. If that is one of Kerry's hoods, he should be fired too.

I was dismayed that no students got out of their seats to call the gestapo on their tactics, or walked out on the rest of Kerry's bs.

Welcome to the brand new NAZI world of W. BUSH.

Like it?!, want more? vote giuliani...

This clown is nothing but a comic looking for a few cheap laffs at the expense of a VietNam Veteran, and former presidential candidate.
Andrew Meyer has a history of filming his own outrageous stunts and posting them on his website:
http://theandrewmeyer.com

After I heard his rambling diatribe, filmed by his own people, you know he was putting on a show for a joke.
Well, guess what Taser-boy? The joke is on you!

When was the last time you squealed like a 6 yo?

Guess you will think twice before you try to steal the show, and fight with law enforcement for entertainment.

hehe

The punishment for violating someones civil rights in this country is a paid vacation...

When the Nazis came for the communists,
I remained silent;
I was not a communist.

When they locked up the social democrats,
I remained silent;
I was not a social democrat.

When they came for the trade unionists,
I did not speak out;
I was not a trade unionist.

When they came for the Jews,
I remained silent;
I wasn't a Jew.

When they came for me,
there was no one left to speak out.

Hey Eric, it's been said before. You must be a college student. Nice job Mr. Plagerist.

Attribution please.

mr. "smirky mcflightsuit",
you are an uncle tom. you are the poor schmuck that'll singled-handlely speak for the policeman's brutality and will stop the momentum of comments published before yours does. you should be made to squeal like a six year old for your comments... then you'd know how it feels. to wish harm on others is the first sign of evil.

Lost in the discussion about the incident at UF is the core of the matter which the student was questioning, ie. the validity of the 2004 election and the absence of fair elections on the national level. Does anyone believe that we are guaranteed freedom of speech and fundamental civil rights when our system is so corrupt as to accept a fixed election (actually TWO bogus elections on the national level) into our history books with little to no comment.

The joke is on Andrew, eh?

We'll see who's laughing when the charges are dropped, the police involved are fired and sued, the University issues an apology, and spends months trying to sweep this public relations debacle under the rug.

Let this be a lesson to the rest of the pigs. Even if the sheep in the audience didn't step up to them, America is stepping to them right now, and there's some hope left.

Taswers are almost always used after the suspect is subdued. They are an authorized opportunity for the police to "get even". It is a form of summary punishment. The taser has no legitimate use. If you have tasers in your police department you are condoning abuse.

I can see why police may need tasers under extreme situations on the campus- but six officers having to use a taser to contain one college student?

If I were this guy, I'd be in the process of filing one h*ll of a law suit right about now. That one woman "officer" kept telling him to "calm down and take a deep breath" Each time (save for a few where he asked why he was being arrested) he was not even talking above a normal voice tone. And only after asking mulitiple times did they say it was for starting a "riot". Ok, forgive me but did I happen to miss a riot starting? The only mass of people I saw was the jacka$'s who call them selves "police officers" conduct themselves in a terrible manner. Good Lord, did they stop to think that for a moment, they were caught on at least from what I saw online, 5 or 6 DIFFERENT cameras in different angles?!! How stupid must they be!! I really wonder what kind of nation my children will inherit. Will their thoughts be allowed to be heard? Or like this guy, will their opinions and concerns be forced dorment and hidden away? God help us all.

It's such a shame when you see six cops doing something like that to one 21 year old young kid.

and still we say Freedom of speech.

Posted by: American | September 18, 2007 4:51 PM

The guy that was tasered went to that event with the purpose of causing a scene and being arrested so people like you could claim free speech is being suppressed. Free speech is not being suppressed.

For the ones refering to Bush and the republican party, take another look because the officers were working for Kerry at the time. Yes, it could be said that the boy was resisting arrest. But there was nothing threating about his resistance. He showed no interest in being violent. I would not even put it past him that he staged it. But, he could only stage his portion of the event. The officer made there own choices. Whether or not he staged his portion of the events, the officers reactions put him in histerics. They could have easily escorted that boy from the building without an arrest. The more I look at the video the more I am sure the officers were signaled to take action, and the more I am sure the boy staged the situation. That being said, there still was no credible reason to taser him.
The Opinion of an african american right wing christian conseritive.

Welcome to USA of 2007.

A brilliant display of stupidity. The rest of the world should practice freedom of speech and all the goodies that comes with a democracy but when it comes to the citizens of USA there is an exception.

This incident goes to show whether in Iraq, Bosnia or Rwanda, weapons in the hands of reckless human beings drives them to insane heights of violence.

The fact such an incident took place at a place of learning, right under the noses of an Anti-war senator shows that we have to maintain constant vigilance to protect the values that our founding fathers have left for us.

It’s amazing to see the subjects or beliefs individuals in this nation rise up in arms over. Here is this young Florida student tasered because he believed it was well in his right to pose questions to Senator Kerry. I believe in free speech and understand that this nation was established on free speech. However, in this situation this individual posed his questions and after some debate, supporters of this forum believed it was well in their right to silence the microphone. Instead of this young Florida student returning to his seat after the microphone was silenced he continued to pose questions seeming not to realize Senator Kerry no longer wanted to entertain his questions. In my opinion if this person believed that his questions warranted answers he should have return to his seat in a civilized manner. NOT this kid he had to show all of his peers what a man he was by believing he was warranted an answer(s) from the senator. Once the authorities asked for him to leave in a civilized manner he refused by saying, “he is not doing anything wrong.” Again authorities asked for him to leave time and again but again he refused to obey. Realizing that this gentleman was not going to comply, they proceeded to arrest him and this action outraged the Florida student allowing him to demonstrate to his peers how big of a kid he was instead of a man. The questions that I pose are; what has this person accomplished by disobeying law officials? Is this incident related to the UCLA student tasering of 2006? Does the young generation believe they can do as they please because most have camera phones or video cameras on hand with a threat to release what they believe is wrong over the Internet? I can recall forty or fifty years ago when a group in American society was attacked by dogs, sprayed with high velocity water hoses, kick on, spat on and numerous of other brutal acts by individuals behind the shield. In my opinion those issues that this group of people fought far outweighs some Florida kid getting tasered because he refused to leave a public forum held by Senator Kerry.

These police acted more like the Gestapo than what police in a Democratic nation should act. I guess with the Patriot Act, illegal wiretapping and expanded "police" powers, they are more like the Gestapo now, aren't they?

I have been reading how the whole incident was set up. Even if it was, does it really matter? The act of tazing Meyer, when they could have lifted and carried him out of the room, was incredibly barbaric.

There are many who would prefer to take a beating instead of being tazed. Being tazed is extremely painful, causing excruciating contractions and cramping of all the major muscles. For those that found the tazing of Meyer acceptable, how acceptable would it been for the police to violently bludgeon Mayer with a night stick? Would your reaction been different if you saw and heard each blow come down on Meyer's body. Just because you did not fully see the action causing the extreme pain, it does not remove the fact that it did occur.

What happened is a symptom of a growing disease in the U.S.A.. It is not a Republican problem, it is not a Democrat problem, it is a social problem. We have grown apathetic, we have stopped thinking for ourselves, and in the meantime we have allowed fascist and totalitarian laws to be passed. Everyday I hear about another Liberty being attacked. For instance, the proposal of taxing fast foods out of existence, smoking bans, abortion laws, assaults on free speech, the destruction of the right to privacy (espionage on U.S. citizens), and the list goes on and on. We may not agree with the lifestyle choices of others, but we should protect their freedoms simply because we would not like others imposing their will upon us.

At one time in the U.S.A. Liberty was valued more than safety or life itself. For example, Patrick Henry stated "Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!"

AMERICA "LAND OF THE FREE" Glad I don't live there, too Islamic for me !

I agree with Smirky.
This kid does this all the time. And you can hear Kerry in the background repeatedly saying he would answer the questions. The cops by that time were not listening they were focused on making sure this guy did not cause any problems. Have you ever watched Cops? The kid's mistake was that he started resisting being removed. As far as his peers sitting around doing nothing, they probably know he does stunts like this all the time and possibly thought it was all set up.

Why did campus security intervene in the first place? Senator Kerry seemed willing to answer the guy's questions. Were the 'security' people told to prevent uncomfortable or inconvenient questions in a public forum? Is this what is becoming of the 'Land of the Free and Home of the Brave'? Or is it simply that our mask is falling and our 'unexceptionalism' is being exposed?

Welcome to the brand new NAZI world of W. BUSH.

Like it?!, want more? vote giuliani...

Posted by: tom | September 18, 2007 7:21 PM

Let's see. The "police" that were present were working for John Kerry. John Kerry was the persons making the speech. John Kerry was the speaker that the student was tasered over. JOhn Kerry is the one picking up the pieces, and facing quite a legal nightmare. When I watch all of the different videos, interviews and coverage, I do not see President Bush at the meeting. I do not see Mr. Bush tasering the student. I do not hear Mr. Bush condining the polices actions. So, to say your comment is a stretch...well, it is a stretch. NO, I take that back, it a a stretch mark. I do not care for Bush either, but he cannot be blamed for every event that takes place. Maybe my recent seizures were Bush's fault too...

I'd still like to see Kerry answer the 3 questions...
Thanks.

Where in the world is Rob S. and others getting the idea that these police officers worked for John Kerry? They are UNIVERSITY POLICE OFFICERS therefore THEIR PAYCHECKS come from THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

The taser usage was justified. Politics aside, he was resisting arrest and was a possible threat. He was asked to step away from the mic but irately ignored the officer's request. It took several officers to forcefully remove him, but even after that, he was physically and verbally resisting arrest. The polices performed their duty.

You are correct Jethro, the police were not "working" for John Kerry. My error. This still does not justify a taser.

To answer Andrew's question, which he surely knew the answer to:
Both Bush and Kerry are members of a secretive society dating back to their respective days at Yale University - Skull and Bones. This fact has not been widely reported but when Kerry's campaign spokesperson was asked about it, she said, "John Kerry has absolutely nothing to say on that subject. Sorry."

But anyone with a computer can find the answer themselves.

Bad Kerry, for not telling those campus popos to let the student speak.

Bad Popos for leaping on the train of adrenaline and flexing tiny little nuts on the student.

Bad AUDIENCE of spineless sheep, who not only sat idly by, but applauding the stripping of Meyer's rights and dignity.

The student was tasered after he was handcuffed and on the floor with police officers pinning him down. He was tasered in the chest, which could have resulted in a heart arrythmia. He was tasered repeatedly as a form of torture by a sadist person in uniform as a form of punishment for wanting to speak in a public forum. He had no weapon, except a piece of paper. Kerry communicated he wanted him to speak. What is unbelievable is that Kerry says he was unaware that the student was being tortured until told about it later. I assume Kerry has normal hearing. Screams of pain were clearly heard. Kerry is not being truthful. What is disturbing is that Kerry was apparently afraid to intervene on the young man's part against six brutal cops. This incident has sent a chill through the country, realizing that the police are to be feared and civil rights are trampled upon. This is another case of police brutality, and respect for the police drops another notch.

You know...I love to hear people talk about rights to free speech. How our elections are fixed. How the police force at UF were only copying the "strong arm tactics" of the President. How Kerry should have gotten involved. I could go on. However, with most of you, Democratic or Republican, liberal, conservative, or the ever so few moderates, its all about how you are right and everyone else is wrong. Its not a fixed election if YOUR canidate wins! Its not a bad idea to fight a war in Iraq until your Democratic Senators say they were mislead by the President..by the way, who viewed the same faulty "intelligence" provided by the same government run organizations like the one that would be created by a government run health program. Its free speech unless its a Christian who disagrees with an issue or an evolutionist who wants his view heard. Our Country has become one of the most selfish, narrow minded, spoiled countries in the world. Its not right unless its your way. There is no middle ground. There is no understanding. You can't see how there should be order and when someone breaks that order, the police have been established to restore it. Or you can't see how people would feel that excessive force may have been used when six officers face one offender. BUT then again you can't see that resisting arrest is against the law, can you, when you are right or wrong. That is why we have a justice system. Well, wait a minute. That justice system allows murders and child molestors free roam and make sure tax frauds go away for years.
All I'm saying is... you all fuss about how things aren't fair but you close your eyes and ears to anything slightly different to what you believe. Try a little understanding and don't be afraid to "wonder" if you might be wrong! Be America, a melting pot of beliefs and ideas!

I don't care about the answer to Meyer's question (s) - that is well over and done with (2004 is just very painful). What disturbs me is the support for his current actions. The first televised segments of this painted him as annoying, juvenile, and most importantly threatening (he did not act as if he'd heard the repeated requests to step down and allow the event to proceed, he seemed vey aggressive). Now he's painted as a victim. And yes, tasers are extreme, but what would you do when confronted with a belligerant physical person - larger than you - when charged with protecting public safety, as well as a visiting 'dignitary'? I'm on the liberal side of the spectrum, and the way this incident has been portrayed to the public, little snippets one day, different the next, makes me wonder...are we constantly fed bull..or maybe it more than reaffirms we all need to pay close attention to the facts and sadly seek out multiple sources to verify those facts. I say sadly because I feel we can't rely on fair impartial coverage of the facts in our news today.

Cruel, sadistic, and inhumane conduct on the part of the University police. What a disgrace.

---

University of Florida, President J. Bernard Machen, Phone:(352) 392-1311, Fax: (352) 392-9506.

---

The University of Florida Police Department,
phone: (352) 392-1111
fax: (352) 392-0539
email: updinfo@admin.ufl.edu