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Complete violation of his freedom of speech! I was disgusted watching what those pigs did to him. It is now illegal to ask an intelligent question, especially whent the one being asked is more than willing to answer? I did not see him become physically defensive; all the poor guy did was ask to know why he was being arrested. Hmm, ANOTHER violation? Doesn't he have the RIGHT to know why he was being arrested? And one can clearly see he was not tased until AFTER he was cuffed. Absolutely disgusting. I hope those pigs are not only fired, but face criminal charges. Sue them for all they have, Andrew!

Another person screaming about Freedom of speech. The News agency is not telling you how he ran ahead of the entire line of 50 people to grab the mic and start belching out his diatribe. He then was asked to stop asking questions after his time limit, the same one everyone else had was up. He then yelled at the police that he would not stop. Was asked again, yelled, and then was taken by the arm out of the build, he then resisted the police and became violent. Should've they have tased him, no, should he have been allowed to continue screaming into the mic because he wanted to? No. This person has a history of doing things to be disruptive. Freedom of speech only goes so far until it harms anothers freedom of speech, what about the other 50 people that didn't get to speak? What about their Freedoms?

I personally loved the fact that they tazed him, and believe he entirely deserves it. I also believe it fully complies with the rights of free speech. Long ago, the Supreme Court ruled that "you cannot yell fire in a crowded theatre." This situation is no different. You cannot scream for the purpose of domination and expect it to be protected speech. In that scenario, you are not being free, you are causing chaos and actually infringing upon the freedom of all those around you. If Andrew Meyer wants to yell; go outside and yell, create a blog, hold up signs in a silent protest, write a letter to the editor, start a student organization against the war, organize 10 students to ask the same question until it is answer. Further, go to the microphone and make your point and then sit down and let others make their points. All our better alternatives than asking your friends to tape you while you scream your head off and cause chaos.

Did anyone else realize that they cut his mic?

Yeah. I'm pretty sure they did. He started to turn away after they did that, to leave, but he was grabbed.. and the REAL problem broke out.

The police should have kept their hands to themselves. Formed around him, ready, but not to jump on him like that. Yeah. He cut in line. He seems to be a passionate patriot who wants to know why Kerry didn't try to take back the election? I want to know, too.

My circle of friends includes several police officers. They don't think that the police were right in what they did to this boy. But, they also admit to really, really wanting to try out their taser guns. In my city, you can volunteer to get tased - hey, people actually do it! - so the police force knows the harm that is inflicted. I've seen it. It's chilling.

NO ONE in their right mind should have to go through that. It's supposed to be for slowing crackheads and people high on speed (or meth). You ever gone against someone drugged up like that? Bring a taser - it may save your life.

Watch the full leadup on YouTube for context. This was a stunt ala Borat/Tom Green/JackAss. He wasn't sincere, he was trying to make a name for himself. Regardless of his motive, when the police make a reasonable request you DO IT. If they're actually in the wrong, you're not going to settle it in the heat of the moment. The police were just trying to escort him out of the building like you've seen hundreds of times when protesters try to hijaak a gathering. Usually the person keeps yelling but notice that they walk cooperatively with the officers. This moron actually tries to jerk out away from the officers. He did not have handcuffs on when they tased him-- that was the point. He's a big guy & four officers couldn't get him to cooperate enough to get handcuffs on so they used greater force to get the handcuffs on him. This wasn't a free speech issue at all. Search YouTube for tasings... people get tased all the time for vigorously resisting arrest. If he's not simply mentally ill, Andrew's just an arrogant college kid that hasn't learned that the real world isn't Disneyworld where you can do whatever you want & not get hurt.

no wonder the worlds so messed up, when we got a bunch of wanna-be Bruce Willis' running around with Tazers.
and audiences full of sheeple that allow this sort of repression, not to mention "presidential candidates" that allow question askers to be brutalized.... or was he brutalized for cutting in line??? or was it for asking what he supposedly had done "wrong???" because it sure as hell can't be for lying on the ground in handcuffs.....or was it? because he didn't get tazed UNTIL he was lying on the ground in handcuffs....

could you imagine the world we would live in, IF we lived on the same planet as these PIGS.... man, i'd never have to wait in line again. nor would i have to put up with anybody and their pesky opinions....s**t i'd just taze 'em.

you can't just go around tazing people for cutting in line. you can't go around arresting people for asking questions, and you can't go around kidnapping people for asking what it is that they've done "wrong" when all they did was cut in line and ask a question.

and you can't make somebody who was just EXCESSIVELY tazed stay standing when they are begging to sit down.

Everyone keeps refering to the 'cops', these people are security gaurds not cops. I don't real have an opinion as the kid is an idiot trying to get attention and the gaurds are not well skilled enough, in thier chosen profession I might add, to handle the situation correctly . What I can tell you is this is an American problem, where I am from we simply dont have problems like this. If we did a swift choke hold and the guy would have been out. Seems like with Americans wether it be the guards or the kid or the rest of your society your all about drama rather than solving the problem.

Sen. Kerry should have taken command of the situation and intervened on the student's behalf even if he was making a jerk of himself. After all, he is a decorated veteran of the Vietnam war and a US Senator, sworn to uphold the Constitution. As a result of his inaction he comes off as an impotent bystander.

As I see it there is not much difference between the Andrew Meyer of today and the John Kerry of 1971 when he became a war protester himself - the protester who would be President! In those days there were no tasers, the police used night sticks. Should Kerry have been knocked silly with a billy club for his actions? Many would probably argue that it would have been the right thing, however people like John Kerry and myself who went to Vietnam and those fighting in Afghanistan & Iraq today do so to defend the rights of us all. If people like Andrew Meyer ask some questions we don't like, sometimes we just need to grin and bear it. It comes with democracy. Even though I voted for Sen. Kerry in 2004, I would like to hear the answers to the questions Mr. Meyer raised. As for Andrew Meyer, who knows, is there a political future in store? It worked for John Kerry!

This is a shallow, loudmouthed grandstander that got just what he wanted; his 15 minutes of fame. Shame on all of us for giving it to him.

He is a violent criminal that assaulted police. He deserves to go to jail for a month or so.

I find it interesting that people are so split on this issue. And I also find it interesting that the people who are supportive of the actions of the 'cops' or 'school security' think that you are supposed to 'do what you are told' when the cops tell you to do something. Since when is it an obligation to submit to fascism? Regardless of whether or not the guy cut in line, used up his time, or was continuing to talk after asked to stop, there is no call to physically assault him and torture him with a taser. People get tased all the time, yeah, that is true, and it is a prime example of how screwed up this nation is, and how uncontrolled the police are. Why is it that the security forces in this nation, the police, the military, the private security, are some how socially 'in charge'? They are public servants people!!! They are supposed to protect and serve. They are supposed to uphold the Constitution. They are obligated to protect the rights that the Constitution GUARANTEES. Some cop decides that you aren't supposed to be doing something, and that decision is unconstitutional, and you are supposed to comply? Not a chance. I, and you, should go to jail instead. Screw the pigs when they are out of line. I have seen too much of this. I can't believe that people are willing to relinquish their rights simple because they are told to by some one who they fail to realize is a PUBLIC SERVANT!!!!!!! Cops take too much power to themselves, they think too highly of themselves, and they are power-hungry pigs. They are not pressed into that job, they choose to do it. The same goes for the military. Do I respect them for choosing a dangerous job? Sure, as much as I respect fishermen, or high rise construction workers, or other people who have a dangerous job. The cops need to be put back into their place, which is service, not domination.
Those involved in this should be charged with criminal charges. A crime involves damage, injury or impairment. If you, or anyone else want to charge the kid asking the questions, go ahead. Did you see anyone in the audience trying to get him to quit? Or just the pigs? I personally think he is off his rocker for supporting Kerry, but that doesn't mean I don't listen to his objections and questions. Should I tase the next guy who disagrees with me? There is no difference between me attacking a customer, and a cop attacking a citizen, we both are supposed to serve those before us, not assault them.

WAKE UP PEOPLE!!!! YOUR RIGHTS ARE BEING TRAMPLED A LA NAZI GERMANY!!!!

This idiot got what was coming to him. Some people just do not get it. Regardless of whether or not the cops had reason to lead him away, Meyer did not comply with thier orders. It's as simple as that.

The cops initially grab him. Ok. Meyer resists. Wrong Move. Now the cops can use any means necessary to get Meyer to comply. It does not even matter if you committed a crime or not! YOU CAN'T RESIST a cop's orders, or you will be taken down! Meyer could have avoided an arrest if he cooperated, and left the building quiet.

Meyer has a history of granstanding behavior...anybody who cannot see his stupid antics as trying to gain 15 minutes of fame is also an idiot. Lets all be like Andrew Meyer so we can 1)be on tv, 2)immediately become a well known name in every household 3)possibly win a lawsuit for millions 4)get college paid for, ect.

The list goes on. This kid is clearly pulling a stunt...he knew exactly what he was doing. They cut off his mic because he was yelling vulgar obscenities in a public domain. But nobody knows that side of the story (before the video took place). His friend filmed this for him for this exact reason. Timing was perfect. People need to understand why there were 3 cops standing behind him at the beginning of the video. There was a reason.

Grammar police,here. You are posing a hypothetical situation, which utilizes the past imperfect form of the verb. The correct line would be what if whathisname WERE your customer?

Sorry, but I learned this in 4th grade, and it's your headline.

Are you kidding me? How can you say this moron was in the right? And I wish people would stop using the word KID, he was 21 years old for crying out loud.

He was wrong, he invited them to go after him. Should have tasered him twice if you ask me.

I think its ironic that most people complain that this new generation is not engaged enough in politics. Yet, when one of them actually does, we Taser the hell out of him!

I think its stupid do sit and speculate what his intention was for asking questions, but either way, its his God given right to be outspoken and even obnoxius if he wants to, as long as hes not hurting anyone. Last time I checked, thats what made America a free country. We should not shock people with electric volts because he wasn't asking Kerry easy questions in a polite smiling tone. Passion fuels politics.

By the way, I don't remember seeing Lindsay Lohan tasered after endangering the lives of innocent people while driving drunk with cocaine in her pocket, or Tommy Lee and Kid Rock getting Tasered at the VMAs.

So now an innocent (yes maybe obnoxious, but still INNOCENT) person gets punished and Tasered for not following the rest of the sheep. All we care about was what his last blog entry says, or how many views he got on Youtube....WAKE UP AMERICA, fascism is spitting right in your face.

He was resisting arrest. Even if his 'arrest' was unwarranted, he was fighting them, if he would have just let them handcuff and take him out, that would have spoke so much louder and made it appear more sincere, but he wiggled and tried to get out of their grasp. I don't think the cops are being pigs, they are doing their job, trying to keep the peace, every one, including him needs to adhere to the etiquette and rules of the forum, there are good reasons why there is a format. But it looks like he got what he wanted, attention, his 15 minutes of fame.

YES, you're supposed to do what the police instruct you to do in nearly all circumstances. If it's really fascism, you work it out in the justice system. Call the ACLU. That's how the system works, folks.

Kerry didn't intervene because he's a citizen... he had no more authority than anyone else in the room. The police don't let a guy go because a bystander says so. The police were taking action & it wasn't time for a discussion. And, honestly, anyone who thinks the crowd had a responsibility to overpower the police to "save" Andrew is just delusional. Mobs becoming vigilantes against the police for kneejerk "justice"... that's a solution many times worse than any problem here.

Complain if you want, but the system works very well. If the police have mistreated you, there are a myraid of remedies & resources to get justice. Yes, like any human endeavor, the police screw up in a percentage of cases-- that unavoidable. Visit a country where the police are truly corrupt for personal gain to get some perspective-- start with Mexico or India.

Understand, I've been very unhappy with police I've dealt with in the past. BUT, if someone has an alternative to having a police force with the power to enforce the law with deadly force or physical restraint of suspects, write that plan up!! Until then, the system works and someday you may even be grateful for it.

He deserved it!

http://www.hedeservedit.com

The police didn't set the time limit; the police didn't cut his mike. He was clearly unwelcome by the hosts of the forum & therefore was trespassing. The police were removing a protester on a diatribe. It happens all the time in many different forums.

You do this country a great disservice to suggest the *police motivation* was to abridge his freedom of speech.

It's obtuse to suggest that free speech means a person can take over whatever gathering they want to make a political speech. Forums have hosts and the hosts set the rules. When you don't follow the rules, you are trespassing and can be removed. People get removed from forums all the time for going off an a diatribe.

Can you stand up in a typical restaurant and make a political speech without being removed, by force if necessary? No. It has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

Go stand on a street corner, or a park, or start a blog, vlog, podcast, whatever-- say anything you want. But, when you participate in a public forum there are always rules that can get you removed if you don't abide by them. If that weren't the case, the aggressive would control all forums and civil and polite citizens would be pushed out of public discussion-- THAT would be a real infringement on freedom of speech.

You can be removed from a restaurant for not wearing a tie! If the police came to remove you from the restaurant, they could tase you if you resisted arrest. Heck, they would kill you if you drew a weapon.

Don't you people watch Cops? Resisting arrest regardless of circumstance will get you beaten down, shot, and/or tasered.

This Idiot knew exactly what was going to happen when he resisted arrest. That is the point of him doing it....for his 15 minutes. When have you ever seen any innocent person in thier right mind try to fight 5 cops? Those cops took it easy on him if you ask me.

I hope the police get FIRED and he sues them for millions of dollars. His only crime was ASKING A QUESTION!

Support the first amendment

http://ecu.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5464398225&ref=mf

I think it's fascinating how even in the comments on this page you see the wide range of responses to this incident and how much passion there is on all sides of it. To me THAT is the most interesting part of this story. At Emotional Responses to the Andrew Meyer & John Kerry Incident, I give some thoughts on why I think people feel so strongly about this story, especially why many seem to feel such anger toward Meyer.

And if Meyer was my customer, I'd just try to get to the very root of what was behind all of his emotions. That is something I don't think many people are doing with much empathy or compassion.

Ronny-- you can get kicked out of any event WITHOUT COMMITING A CRIME. For example, wearing a democrat t-shirt at a republican event. Not a CRIME, but still a basis to ask you to leave.

Once Andrew was being escorted out, he RESISTED AN OFFICER. That IS A CRIME.

Another way to look at it-- if a guest in your house makes unsavory comments to another guest they haven't commited a crime, but you are still entitled to have them leave. Once they aren't invited they are trespassing even if they were invited to begin with.

To suggest the question was the crime is crying wolf and THAT threatens our freedoms. We may not be the best country in the world regarding freedom of speech, but we're one of the best. If you can't see that you need to get your passport & do some traveling.

I'd like to hear the answers to Andrew's questions, but I don't think Andrew was breaking ground. Kerry isn't new to this game-- he would have skillfully deflected just as he does here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rcZig9Fkr1A

Just like Howard, I'm completely fascinated with all the passionate people that have come here to express their thoughts on this issue.

Personally, I had many thoughts that were a bit scattered. Part of me felt sorry for the guy, part of me thought that it wasn't right for the police to jump all over him like that, and then another part of me was glad that they interrupted him.

He obviously was being disruptive, but perhaps Andrew Meyer felt that being loud and obnoxious was the only way to be heard. After all, there is so much noise out there these days - we don't know what to listen to anymore. Everyone has an opinion, but how do you get the message across?

Yes, Andrew Meyer could've started a blog or a forum (and maybe he will now), but in the heat of the moment sometimes it can be difficult to maintain control.

Anyone who is not praising Andrew Meyer is a brainwashed human who was born not from a womb but rather from a conveyer belt in a government factory. Wake up America and realize that his questions are what a lot of us want to know but are afraid to ask.

Just remember that any rights you advocate for Andrew Meyer you're also advocating for the Klansman shouting down Barak Obama, etc, etc.

It *is* possible agree with someone's message & still disagree with their tactics. Some would call that maturity. Ever consider why justice is blind and why that's a good thing?

The good news is that you can participate and make our country even better if you have the desire.

Actions speak louder then words-- these folks who so passionately believe we're living in a police state/nazi germany/facist state/government factory are apparently too sleepy to actually take action because the single protest for this issue is over.

If you think it's that bad, get up & do something. Do yourself a favor, though, and consider Gandhi & Martin Luther King before you make Andrew Meyer your hero.