University of Florida Taser incident

On September 17, 2007, police from the University of Florida forcibly removed Andrew Meyer, a 21-year-old student, from a forum with Democratic Senator John Kerry, restraining him with the help of a Taser.

Details of the event

During a question-and-answer session with a few remaining questioners, Kerry announced he would take no more questions from the two short lines. Meyer, who reportedly had been waiting in line, rushed to an open mike and insisted that Senator Kerry answer his question since he had been waiting for a long time in line. He also asked the Senator to answer the questions of all the people who had been waiting in both lines. As he approached the mic, two cops followed to restrain Meyer. Meyer turned to the cops and shouted "What? Are you going to arrest me? What? Are you going to taser me?" When one officer grabbed Meyer, Senator Kerry pleaded with the officer to let him go and ask his question. The officer agreed and Kerry agreed with Meyer that it would be fair to answer the questions of the remaining people as well. Senator Kerry continued to finish his answer to the student who had been interrupted earlier by Meyer's disturbance. Once he was done, the Senator pointed to Meyer and allowed him to proceed with his question. Meyer gave three questions.

1. Why did Kerry concede the 2004 presidential election before results were tallied and despite numerous irregularities (as documented by journalist Greg Palast in his book Armed Madhouse)?

2. On what grounds does Kerry not support the impeachment of President George W. Bush?

3. Were Kerry and Bush both members of the Yale University secret society known as Skull and Bones?

Just after Meyer had asked his third and final question, four police officers seized him and began escorting him away as Kerry said, "Let me answer his question." The student pulled away and demanded an explanation of the officers' conduct. He shouted "Help!", "What have I done?" and "Get away from me!", with his arms raised in the air to show his non-violence, as the officers restrained him and dragged him to the back of the room. The officers placed him on the ground and attempted to handcuff him. Audience members can be heard to ask, "What has he done?", "Why are you doing this?" and "Stop!". As Meyer lay pinned by five officers, they threatened to taser Meyer. Meyer stated that if allowed up, he would gladly leave. The officer replied that this is not his choice. Meyer said "Don't tase me bro, don't tase me". This alleged resistance was followed by an officer tasering him. He continued screaming for help as the officers removed him from the room amidst the crowd and cameramen chasing after. He can repeatedly be heard crying out "Ow! Ow! Ow!" during the tasing incident. During the altercation, Kerry urged the everyone to calm down, and he kept speaking to Meyer's question, which he referred to as "very important". Meyer was then escorted off the premises.

Legal action

Meyer was charged with resisting an officer and disturbing the peace. He spent one night in jail and was released the following morning. His attorney, Robert Griscti, stated he will seek to have the charges dismissed. Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, believed that excessive force was used; he said, "I would find it highly likely that [Meyer] is going to sue."

Fox News quoted two experts who believe Meyer could claim the use of excessive force in the incident. Attorney Karen Conti said Meyer has a good argument for excessive force since officers Tasered him when he was under control. Conti said, "I think the police officers were probably embarrassed that this was going on," Conti said. "I think they weren’t expecting anything like this and I think they overreacted." Fox News also quoted Greg Lukianoff, president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a free-speech group. He said the videotape(s) could help prove excessive force.

Response from university officials

University spokesman Steve Orlando said Meyer was asked to leave the microphone after his allotted time was up. The university president, J. Bernard Machen, issued a statement during a press conference saying he requested the Florida Department of Law Enforcement to investigate the arrest. Officials said it would determine whether the officers used an appropriate level of force. The University of Florida Police Chief has made a similar request. Machen called the situation "regretful" and announced that two officers involved in the incident were placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the probe.

Student Response

Hundreds of University of Florida students marched to the steps of campus police headquarters the following day, chanting that police used excessive force and waving signs that read, "Tasers Kill." [1]

Response from Senator Kerry

On the day following the incident, Kerry's office issued a statement:

In 37 years of public appearances, through wars, protests and highly emotional events, I have never had a dialogue end this way. I believe I could have handled the situation without interruption, but I do not know what warnings or other exchanges transpired between the young man and the police prior to his barging to the front of the line and their intervention. I asked the police to allow me to answer the question and was in the process of responding when he was taken into custody. I was not aware that a taser was used until after I left the building. I hope that neither the student nor any of the police were injured. I regret enormously that a good healthy discussion was interrupted.

See also

• UCLA Taser incident
• Electroshock weapon controversy
• Student protest
• Free speech
  • Free Speech Movement

External links

• The AP Report in The Miami Herald
• A short clip of the incident
• A petition in support of Andrew Meyer
• Video which shows Kerry onstage, crowd response and extended footage
• Reaction on the liberal blog Daily Kos
• The UF student newspaper report in The Independent Florida Alligator
• Discussion on Slashdot
• Andrew Meyer's website
• Article On Taser Incident
• Don't Tase Me, Bro Web Site
• Armed Madhouse, the book by Greg Palast that Meyer was referring to.