I just watched this. This happened at a University of Florida at a question and answer session with Senator John Kerry. Yeah, the student was rather obnoxious, but he had a right to ask his questions - it was a question and answer session, dammit. This kid shouldn't have been arrested, or even escorted out of the room. The other students in attendance were applauding his questions, so obviously having them answered would have been important. And then to tase this kid? After he was handcuffed? WTF?! And the fact that Kerry tried to continue on, ignoring the incident as though nothing were happening while cops tased a handcuffed student whose only crime was asking questions of a government official? Watch it for yourself and tell me what you think. (The direct link is here if you need it.)
3 comments:
I heard about this about I hadn't seen the video. Since when did becoming a self-righteous, know-it-all, naïve undergrad become a crime? That’s crazy! I would have thought that Kerry would step in or at least stop talking! I bet the student will sue. Also, aren't police officers supposed to answer you if you ask them why they are dragging you out of a room?
Also - you should know that I am still in the habit of checking your blog when I wake up in the mornings. I am used to you being in around time zone and posting while I sleep. :)
Melissa
Hi Jane, first time commenter, long time reader. First, take a look at his left hand b/c he was not fully cuffed. Second, it was a Q/A session and not a debate/personal soap box by a delusional/whacked out person. People came to hear John Kerry's responses to their questions and not some whacked out, attention grabbing student. Thats why you see some people leaving when he starts to speak. This is probably not the first time he has done this.
Also, thanks for the better link to this video since the ones I have seen were very grainy and did not show his arrest from this perspective.
ps- be careful of your lawn guy. Guys like that, you just dont know what they will do. There is a reason why he is barely getting by.
Bring Blix over for security.
Take Care.
Kansas City Reader/Father of a daughter.
Through one of the Facebook groups supporting Andrew Meyer I learned that there is a clip of Stephen Colbert's "The Word" segment on YouTube that referred to the tasing in some way. Apparently Viacom has removed it, having made a copyright claim, although over 300 other "The Word" segments remain on the site. Adds an interesting dimension to the question of freedom of speech in all of this, doesn't it? One would hope it's merely coincidental...
-Brooke S.
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