The net is buzzing with the video and story of the University of Florida student who got arrested and tasered by Rent-a-Cops at a John Kerry speaking event. He was asking Kerry about impeaching George Bush, about the 2004 election, and about being in the Skull and Bones group with Bush. Here’s the video (his first few questions are missing):
Here is a video that shows what happened after he was taken out of the room. He was terrified and convinced that they were going to kill him. He was later charged with inciting a riot, which is a felony. The video shows nothing of the sort taking place, and eyewitnesses accuse the police of causing the situation to escalate.
This guy was obviously resisting arrest, but that doesn’t explain why he was being manhandled in the first place. Is it illegal to ask hard-hitting or even irreverant questions of our politicians? While this student isn’t great at getting his points across, he deserves the right to speak as much as the next person.
The fact that this guy was tasered after being pinned to the floor by several “cops” also speaks to the mentality of law enforcement. These taser guns are not a completely harmless means of subduing a person. Amnesty International has documented over 245 deaths resulting after use of taser weapons and although all cannot be directly linked to the devices, it should be enough of a reason for police to use them as infrequently as possible.
I also think this video proves that John Kerry is spineless. I voted for him, but no longer believe that he would have made a good president. He couldn’t take control of the situation, but instead stood on the stage mumbling while utter chaos ensued. I can’t imagine how pathetically he might have dealt with a terrorist attack.
Some would consider the questions posed by this student to be asinine, but I disagree. I believe the evidence shows that the 2001 and 2004 elections were rigged and I was pissed off when Kerry gave up so quickly. The fact that both guys running were members of an exclusive group that values brotherhood above anything else should give anyone pause.
Neither party – whether Democrat or Republican – cares about freedom or the common man. Both are much more concerned with power and greed. Hillary Clinton has proven this with her insane plan for healthcare and Bush has proven it with his utter lack of respect for the Constitution. Since those are the only two parties that we can really choose from, I worry for the future of our great nation.
8 Comments
Now when I watch the news, I wonder what you’ll have to say about things. Great blog. You ask good questions and raise important issues, Brian.
Remember when we used to comment on realities in other countries and said they needed us to stand with them in their pursuit of freedom and justice? We’re becoming one of those kinds of countries. I have to wonder: who’s going to save US?
This is the first I have heard of this, however, I think you would be a excellent journalist, however, finding someone who would let you write the truth would probably be near impossible!
Like Karen I hear or see things and I think I wonder if Brian will write about that. I thought for sure you would have commented about what Sally Fields said during the Emmys!
Excellent analysis. I couldn’t agree more.
This is not the first public tazering this year, even. One has to wonder if tazer first, ask questions later is becoming policy in law enforcement and its private proxies.
But our comments won’t change much. When these things happen, someone needs to have the presence of mind and the inner strength to act then and there. To speak out then and there–call the cops out and call Kerry or whoever it might be–while it’s happening. Because while our indignation after the fact is good for airing the issue, it will not change very much about where things are going if we don’t speak out before the moment of injustice is already over.
If no one is in the lead, that means you are.
If even one kid in that audience decided to raise his voice while the tasering was happening or to demand Kerry take notice of what was going on and speak to it, that would have counted more than any of the online posts we’re collectively writing about this incident because others who may have been looking for social proof as to how to respond in this situation then would have had the “okay” they needed to do what they should have.
This is disturbing beyond belief. It’s like Nazi Germany. Why didn’t anyone come to his defense? He’s going to have a lot of lawyers clamoring to take his case, and I hope he becomes wealthy beyond belief. Maybe he can buy his classmates (and Kerry) some backbone.
what a shame. i thought USA is a ‘freedom of speech’ country??
@Karen – I doubt anyone can saves us, unless we band together and force change.
@stilldreaming – I didn’t see what Sally said until yesterday at lunch. I can’t believe she got edited.
@cadeveo – I agree with you. It’s much easier to sit back and talk than act. I did email JK, though, so maybe that counts for something???
@MBMQ – He definitely has a pretty good case for police brutality. It’s great that so many cellphones documented the entire ordeal.
@eyekneekawai – It used to be. All good things must come to an end, I guess.
My question about who will save us was meant to invite reflection and perhaps encourage us to respond. White knights are like unicorns–ain’t none.
@Karen – Very true!
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[...] not really. But excessive force has been on my mind since reading Brian’s post about the student in Florida being tasered for asking questions at a rally. I wanted to know more [...]