Student Tasered At John Kerry Forum

University Of Florida Student Arrested After Asking Senator Several Questions

(AP)  A university student with a history of taping his own practical jokes was Tasered by campus police and arrested after loudly and repeatedly trying to ask U.S. Sen. John Kerry questions during a campus forum.

Andrew Meyer, 21, spent a night in jail before his release from jail Tuesday morning on his own recognizance. He had no comment when he left. His attorney, Robert Griscti, did not return messages seeking comment.

Videos of the Monday night incident, posted on several Web sites and played repeatedly on television news, show University of Florida police officers pulling Meyer away from the microphone after he asks Kerry about impeaching President Bush and whether he and Bush were both members of the secret society Skull and Bones at Yale University.

University spokesman Steve Orlando said Meyer was asked to leave the microphone after his allotted time was up. Meyer can be seen refusing to walk away and getting upset that the microphone was cut off.

As two officers take Meyer by the arms, Kerry, D-Mass., can be heard saying, “That's all right, let me answer his question.”

Audience members applaud, and Meyer struggles for several seconds as up to four officers try to remove him from the room. Meyer screams for help and tries to break away from officers with his arms flailing at them, then is forced to the ground and officers order him to stop resisting.

As Kerry tells the audience he will answer the student's “very important question,” Meyer yells at the officers to release him, crying out, “Don't Tase me, bro,” just before he is shocked by the Taser. He is then led from the room, screaming, “What did I do?”

Meyer was arrested on charges of resisting an officer and disturbing the peace, according to Alachua County jail records, but the State Attorney's Office had yet to make the formal charging decision. Police recommended charges of resisting arrest with violence, a felony, and disturbing the peace and interfering with school administrative functions, a misdemeanor.

University President J. Bernard Machen issued a statement Tuesday saying he requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the arrest. Officials said it would determine whether the officers used an appropriate level of force.

Machen called the situation “regretful” in an afternoon news conference and said two officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the probe.

“We're absolutely committed to having a safe environment for our faculty and our students so that a free exchange of ideas can occur,” Machen said.

Kerry said Tuesday he regretted that a healthy discussion was interrupted and that he never had a dialogue end that way in 37 years of public appearances. He also said he hoped neither the student nor police were injured.

“Whatever happened, the police had a reason, had made their decision that there was something they needed to do. Then it's a law enforcement issue, not mine,” he told The Associated Press in Washington.

Meyer has his own Web site and it contains several “comedy” videos that he appears in. In one, he stands in a street with a sign that says “Harry Dies” after the latest Harry Potter book was released. In another, he acts like a drunk while trying to pick up a woman in a bar.

The site also has what is called a “disorganized diatribe” attributed to Meyer that criticizes the Iraq war, the news media for not covering the conflict enough and the American public for paying too much attention to celebrity news.

[sblake63]

Another freak bites the dust. Conspiracy freaks are the lowest form of scum. I espcially laugh at the anti bush freaks who think Iraq was invaded for Oil which never accounted for more than 0.05 % of our oil comsuption at it''s peak (pre desert storm). Oh and lets not forget the crowd who thinks bush conspired with the Jews to allow 9-11 to happen so we would have an excuse to attack various nations in the Middle East.

Forget the media & hollywood hype and vot GOP in 08, unless you love terrorist attacks on our own soil again?

[justfacts2]

The guy didn''t do anything wrong except ask questions. I feel like John Kerry could have done more to help this young man, but instead stood up on his little podium and did nothing. Thank goodness this insensitive jerk wasn''t elected president. It is quite a shame that young people can''t ask questions and speak their minds without being arrested. Every day this world seems more and more like the world in the book 1984. Pretty scary.

[luvny-2009]

This is very interesting, why didn''t the cops allow Kerry to reply to the kids question? Who cut off his mic. If Kerry said let me answer then they should have allowed that. Right now politics is at it''s worst and the stress level is very high. The cops and who ever allowed them to do that should be fired!

[agnim]

If these government thugs can so brazenly abuse their authority in public with a white guy, then it is easy to see why Black Americans are always up in arms over even worse abuses by those thugs in uniforms.

Anyway, it serves this guy right to be even be bothering with that loser Kerry, who should just go away.
Every Kerry shows his ugly puss and yella belly, bad things happen.

First is was the Iraq war, which kills hundreds of thousands of INNOCENT humans, when all Kerry needed to do was to show some balls he should have acquired in the military, and thus rid the white house and the nation of a mass murderer.

Now he (a SENATOR) shows up in Florida and sat idly by while the same kind of thugs that invaded Iraq practice their destructive thirst for violence in America.

[sblake63]

"Orlando said university police would conduct an internal investigation."

What for?? Just fire the four cops! Azz holes!

Posted by usmcvn at 09:52 AM : Sep 18, 2007

____________________________________

Fire the cops? NO way. Give them a raise and then tazer the punk again as he leaves jail just for "general purposes". Next time I visit orlando I am going to give those cops like $20.00 starbucks certificates - no I am not kidding LOL. Young people getting their opinions from MTV and expecting us to listen? Hell NO! Next time use a cattle prod LMAO!

[luvny-2009]

I feel like John Kerry could have done more to help this young man, but instead stood up on his little podium and did nothing - Posted by justfacts2

What are you kidding, that''s all Kerry needed to do and they would have tased or arrested him. He would have been interferring with the cops. He said let me answer, anymore than that and he would have got it!

[vwll63]

I feel that too much force was used. Kerry did say he would answer the youg mans questions. So why was he not allowed to do so? Just another example of how our rights in this country are slowly being taken away.

[mbwinnsboro]

What a bunch of wing nuts. Here you praise the police who couldn''n even handle one kid with four of them without using a taser. Now that''s pretty pathetic. They either aren''t trained well or are just a bunch of thugs dressed in uniforms. Universities train students to question and when one does, he is the victim of excessive force. My advise is for the kid to get an attorney and sue the pants off of them. He''s got a great case from what I see. Or, perhaps you people prefer a police state. Now there''s an option, we can even hire Blackwater to run it.

[jn122736]

From the article this young man was out of order but in no way was he out of police control. They were taking him away and he was no possible threat to them or anyone else.

To use a taser under these conditions is direct physical punishment. These officers literally took the law into their own hands, bypassing a judge and jury. This is nothing short of a police-state action.

Sadly, many people will justify what they did because the young man did not stop talking, giving up his first amendment rights.

The saddest part of all, however, is that our rights are not just being taken away from us, we are freely giving them up.

We seem to have devolved from a nation of strong people, fighting for freedom and equal rights, to a nation of weak, %u201Clet George do it%u201D, sheepish followers.

[mandyzfelix]

"The guy didn''''t do anything wrong except ask questions. I feel like John Kerry could have done more to help this young man, but instead stood up on his little podium and did nothing. Thank goodness this insensitive jerk wasn''''t elected president. It is quite a shame that young people can''''t ask questions and speak their minds without being arrested. Every day this world seems more and more like the world in the book 1984. Pretty scary."

I don''t like John Kerry any more than you do, but that kid DID do more than just ask questions.... They may have been weird questions, and that''s fine, but the problem was that he only had a certain amount of time to ask Kerry the questions and then got upset when they told him his time was up. What was Kerry supposed to do? Jump on the cops yelling "Get off him, let him have all the time he wants on the mic!"? I''m surprised Kerry even offered to answer the question!

[dan9111]

This case proves it. Republicans are more violent to foreigners. Democrats are more violent to American citizens, especially heterosexuals.

For all the anti-violence efforts Democrats are pushing for, all worthy in themselves, they are hypocrites in that they wage violence against Americans to get their way. If this were a radical lesbian feminist speaking "too long" (aren''t our rights inalienable?), you can bet no violence would have been used.

Both political parties use violence as a debate "tool", and they ought to be imprisoned for treason against America.

[gramto7]

Next time I visit orlando I am going to give those cops like $20.00 starbucks certificates - no I am not kidding LOL. Young people getting their opinions from MTV and expecting us to listen? Hell NO! Next time use a cattle prod LMAO!

Posted by sblake63

Maybe before you visit FL, you should learn to read...
This happened at the University of FL at GAINESVILLE. Orlando is the name of the person who was talking.

[timberagain]

"... vote GOP in 08, unless you love terrorist attacks on our own soil again? sblake63 at 09:52 AM : Sep 18, 2007"

One word for you, buddy:
BLOWBACK.
Look it up.

[madisongirl-2009]

This travesty occurred because the Clinton administration
shredded the Constitution by replacing
"freedom of speech" with "political correctness"

...

[madisongirl-2009]

This travesty occurred because the Clinton administration
shredded the Constitution by replacing
"freedom of speech" with "political correctness"

...

[timberagain]

madisongirl: Who actually shredded the constitution?

"The Constitution is just a piece of paper" - G.W. Bush

[tngreen]

So this is what we have come to: electroshocking students for "disturbing the peace." And some commentors in this forum think it''s funny. Near-lethal force against young people for demanding answers, torturing prisoners in Gitmo and elsewhere, breaking Rev. Yearwood''s leg for wearing a button, dragging Cindy Sheehan down a flight of stairs for wearing a T-shirt. We''ve descending into barbarism and don''t even know it. Is it any wonder that other nations arm themselves to the teeth to defend their borders from our army and our culture? Before we try to export our brand of "democracy," it needs a major overhaul.

[timberagain]

tngreen at 10:48 AM:

RIGHT ON THE MONEY.

[racam_us]

I feel as though the young man was out of line. I feel that the police reacted out of line. The person that said they took away the young man''s freedom of speech, if this had been Bush the young man wouldn''t have been there in the first place. That is really taking away freedom of speech. That is suppression of expression in the worst form.

[vancouverboo]

You simply should not have black police on a white campus. Blackie just doesn''t understand the white experience.

[extremophil]

They should have tazed Kerry. Maybe he would blink, or something.

[mandyzfelix]

Why are some of you acting as though the guy asked a question and then they instantly tased him? Them tasing him had nothing to do with the question that he asked... and Kerry was trying to answer it.

[nolalou]

madisongirl ,

repeating your statement 3 times doesn''t make it true!

As for the student who was tasered, from the footage I saw on the news, it appears to be a gross over reaction. His ''crime'' seems to be going over his alloted time, and wanting to make a statement instead of just ask his question. Certainly they could have come up with a better way to handle this! It''s not like he posed some threat to Senator Kerry, who offered to answer his questions.

[citizenusa-2009]

Kerry was attempting to answer the question(s)and the police absolutely OVER REACTED. As I''ve said before, our "Freedom of Speech" is the only thing we have left..for now. It seems we are headed toward censorship at break neck speed. Kerry''s reaction? Not strong enough, I agree. He should have ORDERED the cops to back off. What a shame.

[ssm9451]

Totally agree with tngreen!!!

[citizenusa-2009]

The kid should absolutely sue. As part of the settlement, he should be allowed (in a controled setting) to tazer the cops! I''d pay to watch!

[mandyzfelix]

I actually DO agree that the cops overreacted... I mean... I can''t see the video right now because I''m at work, but unless the guy started throwing punches or something, it sounds like they should have given him the opportunity to walk away cooperatively. I still don''t think Kerry should have been expected to do anything about it. He''s not there to play security gaurd.

[one_american]

It appears that your moonbats have come home to roost, Mr. Kerry.

I hope you have room in your belfry for them all.

[citizenusa-2009]

Larskie: Using "force" against someone''s right to voice their opinion is what sets the stage for a dictatorship. How about if your computer "tazed" you for offering your opinion. How bout that?

[omega39-2009]

He should have used the "free speech zone" which was no doubt located a mile and a half away.

[mjmri1]

So they have just resisting a police officer, huh? So, if I tell a polic officer no, will I be arrested? I do not even see how the police were involved in the first place. His time ran out for asking questions. OH NO, CALL THE POLICE! It is not a police matter. John Kerry wanted to answer them, whats wrong? And to taser the kid when the police should not have even been involved in the first place. Now that is a gross misuse of power. Also, since when are pleas for help disturbing the peace. I sure hope no one is in trouble and cries for help. The police will come arrest you instead of the perpetrator. Having a badge and a taser does not put you above the law.

[citizenusa-2009]

omega39: Nicely put!

[hawksprings]

I watched a camcorder video on a link from the Drudge Report, and the kid was thrashing and screaming all the way up the aisle as the cops tried to remove him. He wasn''t going peacefully at all. I think he brought it on himself. No doubt that he''ll sue and pretend to be a victim in the whole thing.

[l8c6]

The police have a tough job but it is very likely the use of a taser was out of order as it has been in multiple cases. Somehow the anti-social, sociopathic element that is drawn to law enforcement is getting the upperhand as it is in other aspects of society such as the so called "free market".

[ronaldstark]

Interesting considering the questions being asked. I''d like to hear Kerry answer those questions to the media. I say McCain is our best bet in 2008. I used to support democrats. When they didnt stand up to Bush during the troop funding fiasco...I lost all hope in the left. Consequently I shifted myself to the right. Need to stick with a side that has B.A.L.L.S especially in this day and age. McCain has experience unlike Bush and his cronies. I think a McCain/Clinton ticket would be amazing.

[citizenusa-2009]

Larskie: You are a cop right? Probably with a short man''s complex. The only thing that makes you feel like a man is your gun and your tazer. I am embarassed for you. "blush"

[jn122736]

It is hard to believe the lackadaisical treatment this obvious misuse of police power is being given by most posters here.

Some of you have treated it like a joke, some have used it as a race tool, many have used it to play politics, and some just to make noise and get attention.

The only explanation I can think of is that freedoms that are taken for granted by those who have never been without them, are next to worthless in their minds.
Just like money and property is of much less value when inherited, instead of having been earned.

External enemies seldom defeat countries as powerful as the United States.
History shows that most, simply rot from the inside and self-destruct.

[cryonbrian]

White boy shut that ham sandwich up in get back in class!

[jn122736]

Larskie: Using "force" against someone''''s right to voice their opinion is what sets the stage for a dictatorship. How about if your computer "tazed" you for offering your opinion. How bout that?

Posted by CitizenUSA at 11:23 AM : Sep 18, 2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

they, no doubt, would bow down to authority and stop voicing their opinions and instead of fighting for their rights just wait for "George" (someone else) to do it for them.

[madisongirl-2009]

This travesty occurred because the Clinton administration
shredded the Constitution by replacing
"freedom of speech" with "political correctness"

...

[madisongirl-2009]

This travesty occurred because the Clinton administration
shredded the Constitution by replacing
"freedom of speech" with "political correctness"

...

[lars008-2009]

LOOK WHO IS TARGETING CIVILIANS!!!

Qaeda warns of attacks ''worse than 9/11''
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=070530102648.wuwa6k96&show_article=1

Hizbullah Deputy Sec-Gen Sheikh Naim Qassem: We Have Jurisprudent Permission to Carry Out ''Martyrdom'' Operations, Fire Missiles on Israeli Civilians From Ayatollah Khomeini
http://memri.org/bin/latestnews.cgi?ID=SD154907

Switching Sides: Inside The Enemy Camp

But then in 2000, well before his arrest, something happened which would make Abas question everything he believed in: a fatwa, a religious edict, was issued by Osama bin Laden.

"It should be understood that killing Americans and Jews anywhere found are the highest act of worship and the highest form of good deeds in the eyes of Allah," Simon quotes bin Laden.

Abas and his fellow commanders were ordered to read the fatwa to their men and make sure they carried it out. The others obeyed, but Abas refused. It was his moment of truth. He firmly believed that jihad was to be fought only on the battlefield in defense of Islam; he had always been taught that the killing of civilians had nothing to do with holy war and that it was forbidden.

The fatwa justified killing non-Muslim civilians everywhere.
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/04/60minutes/main2761108.shtml?source=RSSattr=60Minutes_2761108
American Al Qaeda Member Threatens Attack
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2007/05/29/terror/main2865282.shtml

[iceman_1960]

lars008,

Don''t quote General Patton anymore. That''s an order.

Patton was a notorious anti-Semite.

He probably believed the vicious lie that Jews used poison, the coward''s weapon of choice, to murder Muhammad.

[iceman_1960]

"the thing that makes me feel like a man is watching my bullet pass through the skull of a liberal

(It''''s even better the smell of napalm in the morning)"
- Posted by Three-o-six at 11:44 AM : Sep 18, 2007

Knock that talk off. You''re on the Internet. It''s like the U.S. Mail. You don''t use it to make threats.

Or what you''ll be smelling in the morning is eggs & beans in the prison dining hall.

[j-whitman]

The student is a Young College Republican, he refused to obey security & wouldn''t stop creating a disturbance --- Yes,, tasing him was not an option --- The punk should have been tased.

[omega39-2009]

I see several of the posters here, had they been driving the Chinese tanks in Tiananmen Square, would have gladly run over the lone dissenter that stood in front of their advancing column.

[xenalily]

It just seems odd to me that not one person in the audience attempted to help their fellow student or speak out against the police. Is it because everyone felt that this student was disturbing the forum or because they were afraid of campus security? I am just surprised to see that what it looks like is that only one person was roused enough to actually stand up in the audience.

[j-whitman]

omega39,,, There is no comparison at all to the student in Tiananmen Square -- He was protesting for democracy & Human Rights ---------- This Young College Republican was trying to shut down democracy & an authorized public discorse

[iceman_1960]

"The student is a Young College Republican, he refused to obey security & wouldn''t stop creating a disturbance --- Yes, tasing him was not an option --- The punk should have been tased."
- Posted by j-whitman at 12:04 PM : Sep 18, 2007

Was he ? The story doesn''t say. But he was saying that Kerry really won in 2004, that Bush stole the election and should have been impeached.

What gave his identity away was when he started shouting "Inbred Chrsitian Warmongers and Republican snakes ! Nothing good comes out of the south !"

[citizenusa-2009]

If I were sitting in the audience, I would be scared to death to make a sound, after watching what was done to someone merely asking questions. Visions of Kent State probably raced through their minds. We need to be very, very, careful who we issue "badges" to....uh, oh, maybe I shouldn''t say that..I might be tazed..."sorry officer, I didn''t mean to voice my opinion"..."I''ll be "good" and not ask questions, or disagree with anything or anyone in this great "democracy" of ours". Please sir, may I have another?