Andrew Meyer at Gainesville Florida

I have some thoughts about this situation

Two videos:

http://wdef.com/video/police_taser_florida_student_at_john_kerry_event/09/2007

http://wdef.com/video/police_taser_florida_student_at_john_kerry_event/09/2007_0

My eyes glazed over in this video, I wasn't using them for a portion, I was seeing in the mind. It's interesting to look at. The drawing force of them. It can be dangerous to draw too much. I'm glad I am able to put these things on video and know myself to find a better way.

Category:

People & Blogs

Tags:

• freedom
• of
• speech
• bill
• rights
• protests
• Andrew
• Meyer
• Gainsville
• Florida
• university

[chosop25]

"He brought it on himself." It's not about his emotional reaction. It's about the freedom of speech for citizens of this country. It really troubles me to see the people defending the police brutality. It really bothers me. It freaking upsets me. How did we come here? How did we get here?

Police is here to protect us getting paid our tax money. Wow, what an Alice wonderland I live in!

[skewed12]

You've made a good point there, Ian.

Listening to others does make one calm down; it helps to diffuse a hostile situation, pacify turbulent emotions.

Indeed, we of the world need to listen more. Only then might the multitudes begin to truly understand each other. Too often, however, we focus on ourselves, our own emotions, as if WE are ALL that is under the sun. It's called selfishness.

One would be surprised at the understanding he would gain by simply, truly listening.

[420Steamroller]

nice bong bro.

[dennis71220]

That is the most ignorant thing Ive ever heard. He brought it on himself? He asked a question that the police didnt like so they grabbed him. Free speach means nothing? Welcome to the police state and goodbye to the constitution.

[Kimit420]

"DONT SPEAK"?? really?? also saying "dont shoot" should not prompt anyone to shoot.. also the video on fox you can clearly hear him say if they let him go he would leave... also a taser is considered a deadly weapon, so why did they tase him when he presented no threat and handcuffed... cops are control freaks and have to much power.. on that note kerry said it was fine and that he would answer the questions.. the disruption didnt begin until the cops got involved..

[ango7]

i agree with everything you said, and the meyer kid did bring it on himself with the ways he handled things, but...i don't agree with you on the don't "tase me" is asking for a tasing....it was just his aggressiveness and attitude/tone, if he calmed down and said don't tase i think he would have avoided that event....HOWEVER, i don't believe what the cops did was right--power went to their heads. the guy didn't do anything to pose and physical danger, just a disturbance.

[ccr5cxcr4]

Meyer in his own words:

"I violated the rules of the forums, and was disruptive" "There were rules in place to ensure that the forum was run in an orderly fashion, and I did not follow them"

Legal precedents on limitations of speech set out in Bethel School District No. 403 v. Fraser - May prohibit the use of vulgar language

And Tinker v. Des Moines - Students may express themselves so long as they are not disruptive.

[ccr5cxcr4]

Organizers had ample reason & the right to eject meyer. It was no violation of his rights to do so.

Bethel & Tinker have been cited by the Supreme Court in cases addressing college students so obviously the justices feel they are relevant.

The ACLU or meyer are free to bring a court case if they believe his rights were violated.

I doubt they will, because they know the precedents & at the cases the Supreme Court has declined to hear re: vulgar speech (Robinson v. Montana, for example.)

[andyspeaking]

You are a fucking idiot. I wish you would scream "DON'T SHOOT" in front of someone who has a gun.

[fliegeroh]

He did bring it on himself.

[brizzlie]

I kinda get where you're coming from. You manifest your reality, and his high energy and excitement brought an equivalent response in resistance from those around him.

But his passion and excitement should instead be seen as a spotlight, illuminating issues/questions that have been in darkness too long.

[virtualdynamo]

There was no "brutality". He was given AMPLE opportunity to comply and aggressively refused. He asked for what he got.

Freedom of Speech had NOTHING to do with it. They let him ask his question even though he had been kikced out BEFORE that and HE refused to let Kerry answer FORCING his removal. Then he refused to leave, forcing his arrest. Then he refused ot be cuffed, forcing his tasing. He CHOSE for ALL of it to happen. He COULD have listened to Kerry answer his question, but CHOSe not to.