On Sep 19, 2007, at 8:56 AM, Vince Teachout wrote:
> It's not that simple, Ed.
>
> The guy waited until the official questioning was over, then made a
> ruckus until Kerry said to let him ask his question. He then started
> rambling on with his statement, until finally his mic was cut -
> just as
> it had been clearly announced that it would be at the beginning of the
> event if someone went to long, just as he had been warned that it
> would
> be if he went to long. He then expresses disbelief that he was cut
> off,
> and continues to talk, and then shout. At this point, the cops
> move in
> to escort him out, as he's creating a disturbance (clear in both
> videos)
> and that is their job.
Oh, I agree that the guy was being a jerk. I had also read the
comments by an eyewitness that was posted on Google: http://
news.google.com/?ncl=1120931376&hl=en&topic=n&btclp=1&scoring=r ( -
or- http://tinyurl.com/25mg89 ). He starts of by stating clearly that
the guy was a poser looking for attention:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Moments before publicly berating Senator Kerry - who was gracious
enough to allow the question beyond the allotted time available - he
gave his own video camera to a complete stranger nearby, simply to
ensure that the incident would be recorded. There are also some who
have said that he was warned of his impending arrest, though he
repeatedly asks "Why are you arresting me?" while it was happening.
One can reasonably assume that the goal of this action was
publication. Meyer's personal friends have publicly stated otherwise.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
But he then continues:
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Andrew Meyer is not a terribly large, nor apparently powerful
individual. If six individuals - police officers or not - are unable
to restrain him for the mere seconds necessary for handcuffing,
something is wrong. If six individuals with weapons are facing an
unarmed person, and deem him to be the one posing a threat of bodily
harm, something is wrong.
At no point did Meyer make any apparent attacking motions toward the
police. He made no verbal threats - rather, he loudly professed that
he would simply get up and walk out, if given the chance. Given those
facts, the use of a Taser seems very much unjustified.
While many discuss whether or not police procedure was properly
followed, the pertinent discussion should be whether or not current
police procedure is at all effective.
How any suspect can be expected to relax on command while being
shouted at and held to the ground by armed men defies belief. How any
police officer can restrain a struggling suspect by grabbing their
forearms, one of the most motile parts of the human body, is beyond
me. How one is supposed to turn over onto their stomach when another
person has a knee across their chest boggles the mind.
How the phrases "posing a threat" and "resisting arrest" have been
applied to virtually anyone unable or even slightly unwilling to
instantaneously comply with the sometimes-insurmountable tasks
ordered by officers is just plain shameful.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Another page brings up the increasingly commonplace practice of
tasering students without cause on campuses across the country:
http://machinist.salon.com/blog/2007/09/18/university_taser/
( -or- http://tinyurl.com/2qkdkd )
It is this tactic of small-minded people abusing their power and
authority simply because "they can". Simply being a jerk or not
wanting to show an ID card doesn't give them carte blanche to do what
they want.
-- Ed Leafe
-- http://leafe.com
-- http://dabodev.com
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