Authorities have often used extreme responses when confronted with radical aspects of liberal democracy. Communist, Fascist and Nazi critics of Western democracies commonly labeled Western democratic values as decadent, their people too soft, too vocal, too pleasure-loving, too selfish. To stop this social decay within their own borders their usual means of communication was through physical force and wide-spreading of fear. Sound familiar? The police attack on Meyer is symbolic of the modern day America the rest of the world fears. Not just for their bizarre methods of control but more-so for their growing lack of it.

RJ Fearn, Sandnes, Norway

I think the authorities did the right thing for doing a great job.
His lucky not to have been in Saudi Arabia, he could be have been shot or hanged for that type of behaviour. Andrew Meyer you need to think before you act and have a good look at yourself and build some self esteem if you want to get ahead in life. Don't try to get your 3 mins of fame by being disrespectful to others. Andrew ,Don't Crap Me On Bro!!!

Stav, Melbourne, Australia

So the hell what if the guy was grandstanding?! What if he were in league with neo-Nazis?! Him being tazered was completely inappropriate! He was not violent, he was asking a question and his mic was cut. Even Kerry was disgusted by this obvious police brutality. People have the right to grandstand, try to enhance their reputations, and ask candidates embarassing questions without being arrested by the police and shocked. But, of course, the question was a good and appropriate one.

Frederic Bourgault-Christie, Grass Valley, California USA

i'm tired of people thinking they can act anyway they want for 15 mins of fame. andrew meyer has the same train of thought as a paris hilton. wants fame without success. the police did react harshly, but maybe he'll think twice about ruining an event for others just for a 2 minute sound bite.

missy, cincinnati, oh

This is disgusting. Thats all there really is to say. So much for the American Constitution.

Jenna M, Highlands, Scotland

He probably wanted the camcorder recording, so that he could get John Kerry's answer to the questions that he (Mr. Meyer) was asking. Sounds to me like Mr. Meyers was attempting to uncover the truth about some things that the general public might need answered. Btw. The police officers told him to put his hands behind his back very early into this argument, in order to cuff him.

Daniel, Clinton, OK

i don't especially care why this man was arrested, but the way the whole thing was handled was shameful. i wouldnt go so far as to say its brutality, but at the very least its amazingly imcompetent. were these police officers not trained in how to talk down a situation like this?
from the video it looked like the guy was asking his question, and then the police just took hold of him and tried to escort him off in silence. it wouldnt have been so hard to explain what they were doing. but, they did it their way and so several police had to to manhandle him to the ground and tase him.
the man may have been hamming it up for the cameras, but he also seemed genuinely bewildered at what was going on.

jemma, london, uk

Wow, what shocks me is that no one in the crowd did anything about it. In a different time, those cops would of had their ass kicked by the crowd. People have got to start standing up for themselves. If someone would have done this to my brother, I would defend him even if it means fighting a cop, because cops are stupid, they are choosen as cops because they will blindly follow orders, even if those orders are to do something inhumane. People have got to start standing up for themselves, stop being afraid, THEY are the ones who should be afraid. Power to the people, nevermind dictators and presidents and their paws (cops).

dont get me, montreal quebec, canada quebec

Looks like another wanna be crapie little actor swinging for the fence. Victims are unsuspecting, he was looking for the action and got more than he wanted; However the first amendment stands tall to defend his right to speek in a peacable manner. It's all about perception, looks to me like he should have had a chance to finish his Q&A. Certain cops just want to pull the trigger, usually the small lightweight female with little fighting power. I have seen women cops start problems they can't handle and there big buddies come to her rescue as she darts out of the combat zone and runs for cover or...the tazer?

Scott, ridgemoore, USA Ca

My daughter came up to me as I was finishing watching the video and asked, "Daddy, why are you crying?"

I told her I hoped that she'd never know why.

I am appalled that this happened, and even more so that no one thought to take any more action than video the incident.

Sadly, the news accounts of this incident portray Mr. Meyer in a poor light. Even the so-called left wing news agencies slant the report against him.

Did I miss something? For what I saw was someone asking questions that he had every right to ask, and prefacing them with information that was pertinent to the questions.

All I know is that if I was John Kerry I'd not have stood on stage blithely answering those questions as the young man in question was tasered. I'd have been up the aisle and to his aid in a heartbeat.

Craig, Saugerties, NY

This is ridiculous. The guy was so excited for a raison. And he asked his questions with to much excitement and a bit of anger because of what happend before. The people of the university knew that he was going to ask some difficult questions so they didn't want to let him speak. Kerry, who I am a big fan of, was giving elaborate answers so the guy who was tased thought he wouldn't get the opportunity to ask his questions. When he passed the other students and asked his question, the police already tried to stop him from asking his question. It 's then that he gets excited even more, afraid of being stopped before he could ask his question. The violence used by the police was uncalled for. THe guy is tiny and there were cops bigger than my appartment so they could have escorted him easily. Very easily without pepperspray and taser. And the law states that he had the right to resist arrest because it was an illegal arrest. And as always, people in power try to portray him as an idiot

christian, gent, Belgium

he may have planed to ask thous questions but how can you plan that, that was so out of line im sick

matt , clinton twp, mi

He might not have been in the right for doing what he did, but Andrew did NOT deserve a tasing. This is ridiculous! It borders dangerously close to police brutality. If he'd been attacking someone or been wielding some sort of weapon, this type of behaviour would have been acceptable, but in this case the police were OUT OF LINE.

Perhaps if they'd allowed Kerry to deal with this so-called disruptor, we wouldn't have such a problem. Sure, the kid wasn't in the right. Sure, he was being a general jerk. But that doesn't mean the police were in the right - they were further into the wrong than Andrew.

Taylor, Longmont, CO

To the individual who asked what I'd do if arrested by an officer of the law in good standing - I wouldn't resist. Resisting ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS makes things worse. Look at where it landed good ol' Drews.

Of course, I avoid getting arrested by not being a pseudo-intellectual attention grabber that disturbs the peace (among other things) to begin with. Keep in mind that this person broke the law not necessarily by what he was doing, but how he went about doing it.

Anybody who thinks the amount of force used was excessive should try to control someone who's resisting and see how easy it is. It's not. Pepper spray isn't advisable in such crowded conditions where it could affect others in close proximity, and a nightstick would definitely be crossing the line. But Mr Tazer was juuust right. That's why cops have them, folks.

Brian A, Kingston,

There is a possibility that he brought the camera and asked those questions because he was afraid of something exactly like what happened, yet still decided to aska question!

It is ridiculous to even assume that his desire to tape his question indicated some sort of "plan" considering no one in their right mind would ever assume that the police and our government would ever be expected to behave in such an outlandish, illegal fashion!

The fact he had the foresight to bring a camera, and make sure that his friend taped his demonstration of FREE SPEECH only brings to mind unquestioned applause so far as i'm concerned. The fact that anyone could actually agree with the way this situation was handled makes my stomach roil and my gag reflex kick in.

And as for resisting arrest - Any citizen has the right to resist and defend himself against false arrest, up too and including taking the officers life! He was arrested on false charges, never struck out, and only tried to flee! Wow!

Nikki Willmeth, Rainier, Washington

police brutality

maria , ny, ny,

This is a very serious and disturbing situation. I condemn the police for their actions. It is completely UNACCEPTABLE in a democratic society.

First, the Police did NOT say why Andrew had been arrested; second, the poor student was only expressing his views and using his human rights appropriately. To question a politician and get taken away amounts to violation of the right to free speech.

THIRD, Andrew was TERRIFIED - how would YOU feel if police started pulling you away, refusing to say what they are arresting you for, and then to TORTURE you with thousands of volts when you became terrified.

It is like a regime where people who question the authority of the dictator or their policies are detained and tortured. Being shot with a Taser amounts to TORTURE. Worse still, Tasers can KILL.

The US public MUST protest against use of violence against innocent people for using free speech.
Those who think that the actions used by police are justified are seriously misguided.

Benjamin Hughes, Wombleton, North Yorkshire

Wow, land of the free and home of the brave, eh?

Hmmm - wow, didnt know that asking a question at a public event was a criminal act.

I am very, very disturbed about the state of democracy in the United States. Very.

Jennine, Vancouver, Canada

He was asked to leave the mic by the organizers of the event. Keep in mind this is also after they made aspecial concession for Andrew Meyer since the event had ended. He then used profanity on the mic. They cut him off and ask him to leave. He then began disturbing the peace, and resisting. He had one handcuff and was flailing it around which it could have hit one of the officers or himself. This is why he was tased. The officers will be found to be in the right.

Wayne, Ragley, Beauregard, Louisiana

"taking tasers away from police would be a mistake, then they are left with fewer non-lethal alternatives."

sure, paul. are you saying that if they hadn't had a taser, the campus police would have been justified in shooting meyer?

presumably not. in this case, they had quite acceptable non-violent (never mind non-lethal) options open to them. whatever you think about his right to free speech (or to be a disruptive jerk), he could have been dealt with calmly, but firmly, with no need for violence.

jem, london, uk

"taking tasers away from police would be a mistake, then they are left with fewer non-lethal alternatives."

sure, paul. are you saying that if they hadn't had a taser, the campus police would have been justified in shooting meyer?

presumably not. in this case, they had quite acceptable non-violent (never mind non-lethal) options open to them. whatever you think about his right to free speech (or to be a disruptive jerk), he could have been dealt with calmy, but firmly, with no need for violence.

jem, london, uk

why why why what did he do in the first place to get arrested. I can't believe that asking questions got him arrested and tasered hehe what a world we live in!!! They should have not asked him to leave. Being annoying is not a crime just because people didn't like what he was saying does not justify being arrested!!!!!

me , charlotte ,

andrea, there are two issues - whether meyer's freedom of speech was unfairly restricted and whether the measures taken to restrain him were excessive.

you state that, had he left quietly when asked, they would simply have taken him outside and no one would be raising a stink about this. you would appear not be concerned that he asked a question that people wanted answered and that kerry was prepared to answer. it would just as fair to say that, had the authorities simply left kerry to answer, meyer would not have been "thrashing and screaming". meyer felt he was wronged in the first place because neither his question nor kerry's answer were being heard.

it is fairly clear that he was not, as you suggest, a potential threat. in any case, by the time he was tased, he had already been restrained. using the taser was totally unnecessary.

given that you started your contribution by stating that you are sick of idiots whining, we understand your approach to free speech.

jem, london, uk

..But where were his Bro students when this was all going on. Taking Pictures! Very helpful to him at that time. In the old days there would have been blown riot - and quite right too.

Peter Wright, London, UK

Police brutality man! Freedom of speech man! Down with the pigs! Give me a break!! Present day "protesters" lack substance, intelligence & reason & this guy should be their poster boy. Being a 60's war protesting hippie turned Libertarian, I find Mr. Myers' behavior and subsequent "Nancy girl" response to the tasering hilarious. Spoiled, rude, self-centered & stupid people like him should be laughed at.

Michael Robinson, Charlotte,

I'm sick of all these idiots whining about "look at the direction of our country". This was NOT a free speech issue. This was a matter of him violently resisting detainment for distrupting an event. You can plainly see they were waiting for authorization to remove him from the event.

Had he complied, had he gone calmly and just shouted his question he would NOT have been tased. Instead, he jerked away from the police multiple times, jumped around, and even lunged away in an attempt to free himself at the end of the walkway. They gave him ample warning about tasing, they told him to calm down.

They are police. What if he had a weapon? They did not beat him, they did not shoot him. He was being physically difficult, he was warned about his behaviour and was tased accordingly. Had he stopped thrashing and screaming after the warning, they would have simply taken him outside and no one would be raising a stink about this.

So stop "weeping" for the US Constitution. The police did their job. They restrained a potential threat, and attempted to remove someone who was disrupting a planned event. I do not doubt in my mind that had he gone with them, no arrest would have been made, much less any tasering.

Andrea, Las Vegas, NV,

oh, dear. yet another comment saying we should be glad the cops have tasers as an alternative to bullets.

are you saying without tasers he might have been shot?

in this instance, the taser was not used as an alternative to bullets, it was used as an alternative to a firm hand (and after he had already been restrained). and, it has to be said, even the firm hand was used an alternative to explaining to him what he had done wrong.

jem, london, uk

I would expect to see this type of thing in Zimbabwe ...
USA is a sham !

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

The police didn't over-react. He WAS disturbing the peace, he DID resist the officers. Be GLAD that cops have tasers as an alternative to bullets and nightsticks. I've been tased, and I can tell you from experience it SUCKS. But... no permanent damage. At the end of the day, no big deal. Bro should be happy that's all he got.

Dave Anderson, Brooklyn, NY

I didn't see any excessive force - I think any police force would have dealt with this character in the same way. They were very restrained from what I saw. The student was out of control.

Roland, Auckland, New Zealand

Whilst I believe Meyer was looking for an incident, I believe that incident was to ask John Kerry awkward questions, rather than be tasered. I can't for one moment believe that he sought a tasering. He sought an incident, which was to try and leave Senator Kerry flummoxed and embarrassed. This is not the same as him planning the entire incident, including the tasering.

To the Canadian who says he wasn't tasered, I ask you to revisit the footage,it's clearly audible. You can hear, with clarity, the noise of the taser as it discharges. You can rest assured that had they not tasered him, they wouldn't have been suspended and the Police would have refuted the claims immediately.

Dave, Wirral, England

I cannot believe this! What is the United States doing? If the people in America can NOT have a say then how can we call ourselves a Democracy??? We CANT! I think this is so embarressing and the officers should be on a leave WITHOUT pay and who ever told them to take such action should be punished also! If we don't stop these kinds of things now then it will be harder and harder to keep our rights and freedoms!

Amber, chattanooga, tennessee

I don't agree with what he did, as in my opinion he was obviously seeking attention. He appeared to be being disruptive.

But I also don't agree with him being tasered. Excessive force, anyone?

Jason, Toronto, Canada

This is sick, why do people feel the need to defend those police officers? Do they really believe it's reasonable for police to remove those with conflicting views from political events. How about just having a one political ideology which everyone has to agree to, that sounds fair.

Jon, London, UK

The very fact that an individual is removed/arrested/detained for asking a question of a political figure is without doubt the MOST APPALLING action I have seen in a so called democracy. Whether you agreed with his line of questioning or not is really quite immaterial for it is the actions of the authorities that speaks volumes about the true state of America's highly lauded freedom of speech. This debacle has thrown a huge spotlight on the true state of freedom of speech in America. Disturbing and farcical all round. Wake up America, this is far from democratic behaviour. Its high time Americas politicians and populous stopped taking the moral highground and espousing democracy to the rest of the globe when clearly it is not applying the same in its own backyard

Kurt Luthy, Melbourne, Australia

David Holley makes a tremendous point. Mr Meyer has a reputation but should that prejudice the actions of those around him. Thoughts maybe, but does his past and his reputation warrant a hand on the mic switch and the other on the taser, bro? Sure he cut in line - sure he talks loud enough to be heard without a mic - OK his questions were like bullets from an AK but Mr. Kerry to his credit was trying to save this kid from himself and answer his diatribe. With what, I wonder.

Russ Betteridge, Federal Way, WA / USA

Why was there EVER a need to tase a kid who is already on the ground, being restrained by no less than SIX OFFICERS????? Why is it that members of law enforcement continually do some of the dumbest things possible when there is ANY minor conflict? Obviously, that is a rhetorical question.

TheAndrew is occassionally out-of-line in some of his quests, but there are so many other ways to handle a "cheeky" kid. Kerry said he could handle the question and I'm sure that if he had been allowed to answer even a query THAT odd that the whole situation would have been completely avoided.

The launch party was great, the website is funny, and this episode will make sure that Meyer stays in the national spotlight. Congrats, dude, you did it! See you around!

Maggie G, Gainesville, Florida

He deserved the shock..... he was disrupting the event, was asked to leave and to stop yelling, he continued to resist forcefully... if he would have listened and walked out there wouldn't hve been any problem. He acted even mentally ill and so the officers had to take him out.
It is utterly ridiculous that anyone who has seen the video would think the officers did something wrong.
Bob

Bob, Warren, Ohio, USA

this goes well beyond police brutality - this to me was the turning point. we live in a police state where even asking the real questions can get you in jail. we have to organize to go to the streets NOW! question the police, question goverment and resist this facist government~!

Alex Rodriguez, coral springs, fl

Last time I checke, I don't believe that the police have a right to censor a public forum. Mr. Meyer could have been asking senator Kerry a question as ridiculous as "do you like apple pie?".....Even then, the police have no authority to decide what is appropriate (with the exception of eminent threat or bodily harm).

Many comments have stated that Mr. Meyer was warned repeatedly (once he had been subdued) that he would be tased if he did not ????????????? Did not what?????? Mmmmmm. Sounds strange to me. It looks as if the officer(s) involved lost their cool and let their feelings and emotions get carried away and shocked someone (Meyer) for what they (the police) deemed as insolent behaviour.

Let me say one thing. Most police officers are within their to administer the minimum amount of force to detain someone. However the police DID overstep their boundaries once the male and female officers attempted to romove Mr. Meyer. This is a qutie plainly a breach of the 1st Amend.

Matt Rubinoff, Phoenix, AZ

This incident is, as the president put it, regretful. What has the country come to when our founding laws are trampled upon by our so-called protectors? This incident is not over, not by a long shot. The unnessisary use of force and the disgusting conduct shown by officials will be marked down for future generations.

Casey Johnston, Grover Beach , US / California

What happened to free speech in America? I've seen the video and it looks like he was being pushed away from the mic from the beginning for bringing up the subject of the election and Bush... Is US turning into a police state, or a communist like state?

Bob, Wawa,

whatever happened to free speech!they all listened to kerry why not listen to andrew myer!he wasnt even hurting anyone!so why even taser him?and kerry himself said he would answer the question!what has this world come to?! the innocent go to jail and the criminals roam free! it just doesnt make sense anymore!

Jessica, panama city, florida

Does anyone remember Va Tech? This kid was being loud and obnoxious for no reason, he could have made his statement calmly and peacefully. If this would have turned wrong, then everyone would be bashing the cops for not doing more.

Bob Dole, Montgomery, AL

The "boy" (who, at 21, is a man) probably shoul've sat down when his mike went dead. But who wouldn't be angry at having their questions cut off in such an obvious manner?

The police behaved like goons in a fascist regime. There was no need to handcuff and electronically stun someone whose only "crime" was asking uncomfortable questions.

The audience behaved like the sheep they have been socialized to be.

Our civil rights have been going down the tubes for some time. This incident only shines a spotlight on that fact.

So what's to be done? You can be a sheep, or you can be an agitator for change. You cannot be both at the same time. Even if he behaved a little like a goofy, angry kid, my vote's with Mr. Meyer on this one. At least he spoke up. Three hundred other people in the room did nothing.

beth h., portland, oregon

Reminds me of the scene from Donnie Darko.

Police brutality, in my opinion.

Look at the smile upon that cop's face.

Sadistic. Disgusting.

They need to drop the charges on Meyer.

They need to punish those cops.

I agree with all Garber has to say.

Dan Paladin, Silvermoon City,

With respect to free speech-- there were several students, in line in front of Meyer, who never had a chance to ask their questions because he pushed in front of them to seize the microphone.

There is free speech, and there are time constraints. Senator Kerry said he had time to take six questions. He took eight. Before question #8 began, Senator Kerry said, "This is the last question." At this point, Meyer pushed his way to the front of the line, interrupted the girl who was asking a question, and demanded that the senator take his question. The security guards began to hold him back, and Meyer screamed, "They're going to arrest me!"

Senator Kerry replied that he would take Meyer's question after he answered girl #8's question.

It is after this that the YouTube video begins.

Wasn't Meyer violating the free speech rights of the students waiting in the line in front of him?

James, Gainesville, FL

I think that Mr. Andrew Meyer got what was coming to him.
He wanted to show how "cool" he was by asking inappropriate questions and fighting back when he was clearly asked to leave.
He was warned that if he did not co-operate that he would be tased. Yah sure I think it was a little extreme but, he got exactly what he wanted.
He's getting all of this attention off of it.
Religion plays no field in this so, why was that even brought up?

William Tate, Callaway\Panama, U.S.\FL.

Shocking!

Ian Griffin, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, UK

I am appalled by the police, the organisers, and everyone who watched that happen without trying to do something. You can't arrest someone for asking difficult questions and then claim you tasered them for resisting arrest - because you had no right to try and arrest them in the first place. Did those cops just forget the first amendment or something?

Matt, Leiighton Buzzard, UK

Police brutality without a doubt - he asks an inconvenient question in a place of enquiry and is no thought is given to answering the question. Instead, he is dragged away, searched for weapons, held down and tasered - which seems to be a summary form of punishment now rather than a response to defuse an emergency. What has America become if this can happen in a hall full of supposedly freedom loving people ?

alun macrae, Sydney, Ausatralia

This will be worked out in the courts. The University will pay $$ dearly. The cops should not only be fired, but prosecuted as well. The police officers should be charged and prosecuted for assault with a deadly weapon. That's what I would do. The world is watching America, what you gonna do??

shane orr, austin, tx

SHAME!!! It does matter what the intent of his question was, the Senateur was going to answer for crying out loud! Plus, don't talk to me a out a free country, not any more. Police clearly over reacting, that's abuse, totally uncalled for, but hey, good thing they didn't use clubs!

Signs of the times, take a look in other so-called civilized countries, chains are getting shorter, noose tighter. What are the kids supposed to have faith in now? Surely not the government, or the authorities. Teachers maybe? Judges? Social workers? Doctors?

So we had to kick God out not to offend some? Is it better now?

Catherine, Orange, California

I want Mr Kerry to answer Andrew Meyer's questions.

CE, Nantes, France

Tasers are supposed to be an alternative to more leathal weapons, namely guns. This was not a circumstance where a gun would have been needed. Once you give law enforcement officers these kind of weapons they will become more and more inclined to use them. This is a slippery slope, the police become brutalised, civil rights are erroded, people get hurt.
There was clearly no need for an outnumbered, overpowered, unarmed and already restrained man to be punished in this way.

Barny Boatman, london, England

Next time a police officer orders him to put his hands behind his back (and there surely will be a next time) he might be more inclined to comply rather than resist (unless his chum's there with a video camera).

Ellen Morris, Leeds,

A senior British police officer recently demonstrated the Taser being rolled out over here using the words this is what will happen to you if you "do not obey". This has been graphically illustrated by the events in the U.S.A.
Can we expect similar at the next Labour Party Conference? a handy weapon to use on dangerous old aged pensioners.
I think the phrase Don't Tase me bro could become iconic.

Simon, Leeds, U.K.

Why was it the skull and bones reference that pushed the police to grab him? Are the other students applauding because he's always pulling stunts in this way? I agree with those that say he should have calmed down and would then have avoided being Tasered, but the fact was he has just asking a question or two. John Kerry should have intervened if he says he could have handled it, so why didn't he?

CALDWELL, Dorking, UK

Aren't the USA supposed to be the model of "Freedom of Speech" and Democracy" ?

Trevor, Margate, UK

All police involved in that incident need to lose their badges and go back to being street bullies.

Eric M Holdt, Poland, Ohio

Freedom of anything in the US is a figment of peoples imagination and this current situation proves the point, though shame too on Mr Kerry for not intervening more purposefully during the more than two minutes of abuse that Mr Meyer had to endure, since when can a public debate be censored by the organizers, what is the point of having any debate then?

Mat Biru, jakarta,

If there were a few more people tapped into the Truth in that crowd maybe they wouldn't have done it.. Instead, everyone wants some entertainment, label people extreme or 'disrespectful', etc... This should outrage anyone with half an understanding of what it means to be American.. Fascism is here kids, Wake up!!

Ed Mayhew, Lake Orion , Michigan

What was he question?

G A Turner, Cheltenham,

Poor Little Andy,

Didn't your mother teach you not to play with fire? You got burned!

Simple Lesson, Albuquerque, USA, New Mexico

Deary me.

Someone at the top of this thread says "When the Police ask you to put your hands behind your back, that's what you do. Even if you think you're in the right, even if you know you're in the right, you do what the police ask in a speedy manner."

What's happened that people think that the relationship between the citizenry and the state is that we do what the police say, regardless?

What's happened that young people sit and watch a citizen get assaulted by police and don't intervene?

Depressing.

Gav McLeod, Wellington, New Zealand

As far as I can tell, although his line of questioning wasnt the most politically adept to John Kerry (JK). It was, however, questions that JK was able to answer and indeed willing to answer. It was unwise for the police to interject at the time they did. The man posed no threat to JK's safety. It is about time that american politics took a look at their european counterparts and their ability to, not only deal with hecklers but also deal with unplanned questions. So that police do not interfere with so called "unusual" questioning from the public.

Furthermore. I believe that the man had 4+ arresting officers. This is more than enough to suppress the situation. He did not have to be tasered, When he was tasered he was on the floor and in the process of being cuffed. He was noisy that was all. British police are unarmed (mostly) and have to deal with worse situations then that and they do this with diplomacy, and wisdom

YMW, London, UK

Please. The Americans here are so supportive of this student's right to free speech. You refer to the consitution, the sanctity of the American way. I wonder how reactions would be different should a Muslim stand up in a public forum and challenge the Christian/American way and speak of the glory of Allah. Would there be this much uproar to the use of tasers?

You only support free speech when what's being said is within the borders of political (white) correctness.

Jenny, Bristol, England

Being Brutalised and physically assaulted for being cheeky and a bit rude to a polititian??
God help us all.

Craig, Weymouth,

If he had a point to make he could have done so in a coherent and controlled manner. He was asked to leave, he didn't; the police tried to excort from the premises, he resisted; he tried to escape from police control, he got zapped.

He acted like an idiot being agressive and antisocial and got his just rewards.

Jeremy Wheeler, Edinburgh,

I cannot agree more with an article I found regarding this incident on www.inteldaily.com, which says "The question we should all ask is why did a United States senator just stand there while Gestapo goons violated the constitutional rights of a student participating in a public event, brutalized him in full view of everyone, and then took him off to jail on phony charges?"

"Kerry’s meekness not only in the face of electoral fraud, not only in the face of Bush’s wars that are crimes under the Nuremberg standard, but also in the face of police goons trampling the constitutional rights of American citizens makes it completely clear that he was not fit to be president, and he is not fit to be a US senator."

chris caldwell, Nantes, France

Our Country, (America) is no longer a free country, when a citizen asks a question in the one place where the free flow of idea's is expected, university, is attacked for asking a tough question, who actually controls Kerry, He wanted to answer the man but there was a man in a suit who told the person controlling the microphone to cut it off. Who was this man in the suit and how did he have more power over Senator Kerry? David Icke does not seem so far out now does he? Maybe we should be asking your Mr. Icke his views on this matter.

Fabian J Proano, USA, USA

If Meyer was correct in his line of questioning, then we have a much bigger problem than one student being arrested. If Meyer's claims were groundless, then Kerry was the best person on the planet to refute them.

Police over-react all the time. It was a poor judgment call on their part, but remember, they did not have time to convene a committee and discuss the best action. It is difficult to second guess the police unless we have been in their shoes.

Does anyone seriously believe that the police were their to shut up a dissenting voice? Come on. They probably were listening less to the content of the speaker's than the tone... which may have just been extreme anxiety over asking a blunt question.

The real important issue is that it was Kerry that was silenced by the disruptive farce caused by the police.

The senator should have been given the respect by everyone including the police to give a measured and thoughtful response.

Tony, Tucson, az

I think that while this guy was definitely seeking attention, the situation didn't have to be handled in such an aggressive manner on the part of the campus cops. Kerry even stated that he would have gladly answered the questions, as obnoxious as they were, and Meyer would have had his publicity fix and everybody could have gone home, irritated maybe, but more peacefully. As much as someone may want to, there is absolutely no excuse for putting 50,000 volts through somebody because they're being obnoxious, and now this guy is going to have even more of what he wanted because he's pretty much a YouTube star now.

Mary Troutman, Dekalb, USA/Illinois

If they simply had this speech/debate via IM, nothing would have happened. These kids are always on their laptops. It's not too hard to do.

Florence, New York, USA

I'm with you, Mike B. I'm with you.

Frank, Dallas, Texas

Bush country no less too! Meyers could have been handled easily if it were not for the cops attitude. they want to "take control" even at expense of our civil liberties. crimminy, it's a college, not a blasted prison meeting!

Pete Krohn 06375, quaker hill, ct

According to principles set down by the supreme court, speech is protected unless it causes direct harm. Speech is not protected if you yell "fire" in a crowded theatre when there is no fire, and panic ensues. However, no matter how rude or lacking civil respect a question may be, it is in fact protected under the US Constitution.

When I saw the video, it was what one would expect in China or in other regime's where speech and political views are not protected. Sadly, this follows a general trend in the US where "enemies" are locked away without due process, citizens are spied upon by their government without judicial oversight, and where parents can have their property seized due to their children's drug habits. (http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003891514_forfeit19m0.html)

Thank goodness for elections, as the people still have the power to vote change in the US.

Steven Michaels, Seattle, WA USA

What the officer told AP about questions asked by Meyer about taping before the Q&A is a normal behaviour - you are at a large meeting, the speaker is a very famous persona, you are about to directly interact with the VIP - you sure want to check if the cam is working and your friend has got your pic in the frame. Cant imagine how the officer thinks this is a violation of any norms? And if after all the campaigning experience of John Kerry, if he cant handle a student's questions (hostile or otherwise) what is he doing at a university campus?????????

Lalit Kumar, Madras, India

How does the fact this guy was taping himself, and had a history of doing so, in any way excuse the violent over-reaction of the police? And why are cops always suspended on full pay? It's like rewarding them with time off for behaving like thugs.

Chris, Worthing, england

i cant believe no-one has commented on this.
Land of the free indeed.

S. Hocked, London,

And they are talking about giving these things to the super intelligent average police officers that we have in this country!? The fact is these things kill and any officer using one and killing someone should be hung out to dry. To be led astray is no excuse for going astray as they say. The "my boss told me to use it" defence didn't work in Nuremburg and it shouldn't work in our police forces.

John, Dundee, UK

this assault on an innocent student in the halls of learning,
which should be a safe haven for students, is proof of the
fascist trend in this country! Fortunately there is a video
that reveals the entire travesty by the cops, and and
brutality against the innocent. No more free speech in this
country, and most people don't even realize the loss.

Joan Payne Kincaid, Sea Cliff, NY

Good. I am happy that he wanted somebody to tape it. This could be you or me or anybody who wants to speak. They were unlawfully arresting him therefore he has the right to resist.
Freedom of speech period.

mel, chicago, US

An absolute joke.

Facist bullies with chips on their shoulders.

I had a gun pulled on me and stuffed into my face because i took a nap on some grass in Orange County a couple of years ago.

Outrageous.

Andrew Kinghan, London, City

As a student at the University of Florida, I feel that one aspect of this article requires clarification: Mr. Meyer's microphone was not cut off because of his "line of questioning", but because he began to use profanity. Long-standing policy at these events states that the use of profanity will lead to your microphone being cut off. Nor was the tasing due to his questions; it was performed because he struggled with police officers while being arrested. This does not justify the inexcusable action; action must be taken to ensure that this does not occur again. However, it is important to clarify that the tasing was unrelated to the speech, a fact which is becoming more and more obscured on the internet.

Robert Lee, Gainesville, FL, USA

Regardless of whether or not Mr. Meyer was trying to get attention, it is clear that he was first trying to make the information known to his fellow students, who may have not done research on the subject, and second asking viable questions of curriosity to the former presidential candidate.

Joseph Barnes, Fresno, California

Police Officers and educators and everyone else in authority are taunted routinely. That's just part of the job. For four officers to result to tasering anyone, especially a student at a Q & A forum, is simply revolting. These buffoons should lose their jobs and their peers should go through more training. Maybe psychological testing is in order to determine which officers are most likely to resort to violent force when their authority is questioned, so they can be redirected to jobs where they have no contact with other people.

Kate, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Look, there's a heap more videos on YouTube other than the one you've included in this article. All of which provide more perspective.

Regardless of the motives of the student, I have to question quite why tasers were used. An unarmed student asking difficult questions doesn't warrant arrest, nor tasering. Escorting from the building perhaps.

Gah, London,

the hell with authority! WHY was he asked to leave? he had legit questions, and kerry could've handled it. let the man speak. there have been or may have been election irregularities and i think we should look into it or AT LEAST talk about it.

ghuman, nyc, usa

Please. All the Americans who have left comment here are so up in arms about Meyer's right to freedom of speech. You only support freedom of speech when it is within the realms of your (white, Christian) political correctness. I wonder if you would of shown the same comradery had it of been a Muslim, speaking out against the evils of the West, who had been tazered into silence.

Jenny, Bristol, England

Mr Meyer is a kid who never grew up and apparently
was never diciplined for acting up. He was rude to others there trying to monopolize the mic and regretably, he accomplished what he set out to do, which was to make a big show for getting attention.
He deserved to be tasted and I hope they prosceute
his ass.

Ray Carioscia, Boca Raton , fl

Officers who deal with a somewhat disrespectful youth in such a manner should not be allowed to serve. Police seem unble to tackle simple protests using persuasion and other non violent etchniques. To have to pull him aside and not take the 5 minutes it might have taken to persuade him to leave quietly is bad enough, but to do so without direction from MR Kerry who was well able to handle teh heckler and then to assault him while he is restrained is so appalling that I am flabberghasted. I presume he will sue for millions. The university president should also be ambarrassed by his lack of backbone by not condeming this behaviour much more strongly. I hope Kerry will apologise to the youngster and condem the behaviour of the police totally.

Ivan, Dublin, ireland

Oh for god's sake! How quick are the police officers to use a tazer!? Was it really necessary? I think a politician should handle a situation like that himself. It's not like he was in imminent danger? What an overreaction!

Julia, Worcester, UK

Tasering is, surely, a form of torture and fundamentally illegal. It could only possibly be justified if a person's life or health were in danger; clearly not the case here. Florida police are no doubt fit and active people, trained in handling unruly members of the public, and could have restrained this student without resorting to this kind of violence.

Frank Upton, Solihull,

if the university police hired "police officers" with any skill, they wouldn't have tazed him. come on, he was no threat. the women with the big hips could have sat on him. why is it when a white guy gets tazed he deserved it, but when a person of color gets it, it was police brutality.

rrrr, hayward, usa/ca

The land of the free and the home of the brave?

What happened to freedom of speech?

I thought this sort of thing only happened in oppresive societies?

Jason, Coventry, England

Meyer may have been obnoxious and seeking attention but that hardly warrents the officers to restrict and remove him. So the officers themselves created the situation that arose for they had absolutely no reason to restrain him in the first place.

A breach of this kids rights to express himself and an insult to democracy that the police restrained him from asking a US senator some difficult questions.

Is this the new US democray we should be expecting. Shame on them

ibbo, Leeds, UK

This is utterly disgraceful.
It sums up Bush and Blair's world.
They have gone and tortured people abroad and now we have the police doing the same in the West, stifling democracy and free speech here.
It also demonstrates that Tasers and other weapons should not be given routinely to the police.
Senator John Kerry is also at fault for not intervening effectively to stop the police

K. Urban, London, UK

it dosnt matter if the kids a jerk watch the before and after its un cut on you tube the cops need to be fired tasers can and are deadly right here in fl they tasered a 56 year old woman in a wheek chair she died the cops are getting sued

david, ocala, fl usa

The whole event was a obviously put-on, so the joke's on you, gullible bleedling heart leftists...

Paul, Columbia, SC, USA

I am deeply sickened by what I saw in this video. Yes, he wasn't very professional - SO WHAT? The way the police reacted was greatly uncalled for, and I for one would like to see them lose their jobs. What is this nation coming to when we are arrested for asking questions? Perhaps it is true that the government doesn't want us to think too much. I hope our next president will be like Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich - someone that respects the constitution, and has zero tolerance of just blatant abominations of justice.

Dustin Jones, Palm Coast, Florida, USA

He acted like a spoiled child and now he's getting his 15 minutes of fame, just as he wanted.

In an earlier time he would have been hauled before a judge and been given a choice, jail or the Army. He probably would have enlisted in the Army and learned to be a man and not the boy he is. The national and international media wouldn't have given him the time of day.

Have we progressed?

Ross, Wyoming, USA

I think everyone is missing the point. Andrew Meyer got tased and arrested for exercising his freedom of speech. Or is freedom of speech simply an illusion in this country?? What are our troops fighting for, if not our Constitutional rights? But here in the United States a student asking questions of a political figure will be arrested and tased. What could he possibly have been getting arrested for? Freedom of Speech does not exist. We are a police state. Wake up people.

Beth, Lakewood, CO

It doesn't matter what Mr. Meyer's intent was. Did the police behave legally and appropriately? That is the question that matters.

Alex Nowik, San Francisco, USA

The police had the student subdued and handcuffed before they unleashed the Taser on him. Tasering him was unnecessary.

John Kerry watched the whole event passively, almost as passively as he watched the vote in Ohio being stolen from him. I have lost what little respect I had for Kerry after seeing this incident.

My heart goes out to Andy Meyer, the white Rodney King.

Dennis Wilson, Wyandanch, NY, Amerika

It's amazing what a few minutes of edited video can provoke! The guy was disruptive before he got up to ask a question. He cut in line of people waiting for the mic. He then prattled on with wierd conspiracy theories for several minutes before the organizers cut his mic. He was asked to leave. Security attempted to escort him out. He resisted and threw himself to the ground. They tried to cuff him, but he flail his hands about. They warned him they were going to taser if if he didn't stop fighting them. They warned him again. They tasered him.

Great quote from John 'Reporting For Duty' Kerry, " believe I could have handled the situation without interruption.” He could of, but he didn't. He sat back and watched for 10 Minutes.

M. Fernandez, San Francisco,

I am absolutely disgusted with this video and more importantly the audio. Kerry squirms out clean, yet he had it within his power to stop the police from tasering the kid. Although he was somewhat rude with his manner of speaking, he did NOT break the law. He did not deserve to be physically attacked and certainly doesn't deserve to be arrested. Furthermore, I would have liked to have heard an answer to at least one, if not all of the questions he asked.

Anonymous, Oakland, CA

I think the police went too far, they had him handcuffed and they still tased him. they went too far. all they had to do was escort him out of there. I think the officers involved need to be let from their jobs.

Nathan, Havana, Illinois

Free speech actually DOES allow people to do exactly that- speak freely. I can not believe the people out there saying this event was justified. It is a clear violation of First Amendment rights. We can speak freely and assemble freely in public places- has city hall now become a place where a citizen cannot speak their mind? What country do you think we live in, Russ? People DIED and continue to die for our rights, and you think this poor kid deserved to be illegally arrested and shocked multiple times? You, and every person that has the gall to say 'he deserved it' should probably move to China, since you support abuses of state power and human rights so readily.
Free speech and assembly are important cornerstones of DEMOCRACY.
People need to ask questions, and have representatives answer them. Dissent is patriotic, not tase worthy. Wake up America.

Em Rosenberg, New York, New York

"There is nothing about our "right to free speech" that includes being loud and obnoxious."

It is precisely this fascist rhetoric that is transforming the US into a police state. FREE SPEECH does not mandate that what you say be pleasant or quiet.

Liberty does not rise out of ignorance, Russ.

P. M., Wichita, KS

"understandable"?? How could it EVER be "understandable for police or security guards to react this way?

Ask yourself this, would they have treated him the same way if he were a senator? If he were Donald Trump, or Jeb Bush?

Free speech is a right that must be demanded. This student rightfully demanded to be heard and all of the students in that hall should have jumped to defend him when he was attacked by the rent-a-cops. Disgusting. And more evidence that the US is straight on the path to fascism.

Michael, New York City, NY, USA

The student was certainly looking to draw attention to himself and be a bit of a troublemaker. But speaking in a public forum, raising reasonable questions to a sitting politician is the essence of protected First Amendment speech, and the audacity of the speaker does not make it less so. To say that the actions of the police were wrong is to state the obvious. That five or more police could make such a mistake is truly frightening. And that a man who was a hair's breadth from the Presidency let it pass in his presence without lifting a finger to stop it is even more so (though one certainly could not have expected more from the current occupant of the Whitehouse).

If the state and University authorities do not repudiate this action in the strongest possible way, it will be a very bad omen indeed.

Jon, Seattle,

Facts: Meyer cut in line, broke the "one question" rule, and went over the time limit.

Was campus police wrong to remove him for that? I don't think so. This isn't a First Amendment issue.

Facts: Meyer resisted being handcuffed, was warned many times that he would be tazed if he resisted, and was NOT cuffed when he finally got tazed (Watch the video. Where is his left hand?)

Did campus police use excessive force? If they did, then there are no circumstances under which they can use a tazer to subdue a resisting suspect.

It's easy to blame the police in this situation as they have a bad and somewhat deserved reputation for brutality, but it seems like you people aren't paying any attention to the facts.

radford, austin, tx

Wow, I would like to thank all the people in here who agree this was police brutality. I was listening to the Sean Hannity show to hear his take on it, and he of course was sticking up for the police. "This is what policemen do" he said. I'm glad to see that the spin the mainstream media has put on this hasn't gotten to anyone. I think that the comments I have read in here gives a pretty good idea of where the majority opinion stands, with Andrew Meyer, where it should be.

Lisa, Waterloo,

As the student who was handed Meyer's camera, he was speaking in such a way that one would ask a stranger at Disney World to take a picture of them with Mickey Mouse. Meyer was excited about having the chance to talk to Senator Kerry. Nothing was planned. Why would someone hand a complete stranger an expensive video camera expecting to be arrested and possibly not get their personal property back? Also, Meyer did not jump ahead of line. The Accent Speaker's Bureau dissolved the line. I would have stood and attempted to speak but I was threatened with arrest. I hope that people remember the children's rhyme "sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never hurt me." No matter how much anyone believes Andrew Meyer had no right to speak, or didn't like what he had to say or believes he's and idiot, his words did not hurt anyone. His words were just that, WORDS, but tasers, they do hurt and much more than sticks or stones.

Clarissa Jessup, Gainesville, FL

The people who had their free speech infringed upon were all of the law abiding, rule following people who waited their turn and asked one question and moved on to listen respectfully to the next person. It was clear that his intent was do disrupt the event. The police were well within their rights to arrest him. I believe that they should have been able to subdue him and haul him out of there without the use of a taser, but, once you start arguing with and fighting the police, you're bound to have them react much more strongly. Had he peacefully exited when asked to, this would not be news. Imagine for a moment that the story is that some deranged guy shot two police officers before finally being subdued. They don't know if this guy is going to be a whacko or not. Their job is to place themselves into potentially deadly situations every day. I can understand why their first reaction to violent resistance is to subdue the person first, and ask questions later.

Mark, San Francisco, Ca.

that was ridiculus. that kid did not present any kind of immediate danger. the decision to use a taser when mr. meyers was pinned to the floor by 5 officers was way out of bounds and unnecessary. Another note, Senator Kerry didnt even try to stop the incident. Which leaves me to believe he doesnt care much for protecting our freedom of speech. "I'll go ahead and answer the young mans question....unfortunately he's not available..." That's about as involved as Mr. Kerry got.

Personally, i think fighting with law enforcement in any situation is a bad idea. But in this instance, it clearly illustrates the level of intelligence of those who have sworn to protect us and our rights.

Michael, Fayetteville, AR

This poor man wanted a record of himself making a fool of a government official, not of himself being brutalized by a lynch mob of trigger happy eletric eels. That makes him egotistical, not someone we should pin to the floor and brutalize.

In this article it claims he calls out, almost as a comedian "Don't Tase me, bro!", but did you see the video? Forgive me, but I heard cries for help. I also heard the laughter of the crowd die quickly into sharp gasps when the tasers started up. This article makes it sound as if the man was trying to make himself into a martyr for the cause when in all truth he just wanted his chance to show up a politician he believed he had outsmarted.

Nina, Hope Mills, USA, North Carolina

The issue is one of decorum. He had the right to say what he wanted, and he did. He asked the question and he then went into a diatribe and dominated the presentation. He disrupted everything, and the campus police tried to escort him out but he resisted. I believe the campus police tried to keep the peace, but Meyer didn't want it.

What would have been better? Allowing him to rant and rave and disrupt the presentation for the sake of his Jackass simulation website? Have you lost all sense of respectability? What if during your graduation ceremony, wedding, or church service he did the same thing? He should have asked his question and wait for an answer. That is being civil, and it is in short supply these days.

Jonathan, Port Orange, Florida

What's more disturbing to me is that everyone sat there in silence. Scared, sheeps.

I'm 22 and I have never been more concern about the direction of our country, until I saw the lack of action on behalf of Andrew Meyer. My generation is the death of America, and for every principles our society stood and fought for.

Jea Nesus, New York, USA

The idiot got what he deserved. It was so obviously for publicity. He knew the rules and he deliberately broke them. If the police let everybody in the room run all over the place and act ridiculous, what would the situation have been like? He is well known on campus for being a fool and I'm glad he maybe finally realized his actions have consequences.

Brandy, Gainesville, FL

I think Kerry should answer Andrew Meyer's questions

jim, bham, al

It amazes me how little people understand the concept of free speech. I suppose by the same twisted logic used by some of the bloggers the right to bear arms would allow me to point a gun at a bank clerk's head until he gave me all the money in his cash drawer. A thug is a thug, whether toting a gun or a microphone.

Drew McDonald, Savannah, GA

An example od Florida's political stupidity.

A. C. Murdock, White Water, , CA

The way this boy was treated was completely out of line! I believe that the force taken against him was absolutely wrong!

Shaelyn Hall, Oahu, Hawaii

Ever since 9/11 American officials have seen it as completely acceptable to start jack-booting around, arresting anyone who questions their authority. The problem is that a lot of these people are thugs anyway who joined the force just to be able to use violence, but now instead of using it on criminals, like they have for years, they now seem to believe that they have the license to use it on anyone who disagrees with them. There is starting to be a serious erosion of basic human rights in the states, and worse, it has been led by Bush himself when he sanctioned removing the rights of trial to suspected terrorists. It worries me and I pray that we British do not follow suit.

Nick, Beijing,

It seems to me that Andrew Meyer is an attention-seeking prankster who didn't respect the rules of the event he was attending. If he truely wanted his questions answered he would of asked them in a much less abrassive manner.
That being said, it is still completely frightening that the security officials would resort to such extreme measures of violence to silence Meyer. It would of been much more appropriate to ask him to leave, and if he starts making a scene or struggling like he did, cuff him and esscort him outside. There were at least four officers, they could of easily gotten him out of the building, and tasering was excesive and brutal.
Personally, I would of liked it if Kerry had answered Meyer's questions, despite how disrespectful and rude Meyer was being, and I'm sure Kerry would of been able to.
I can see why officials would not have wanted Meyer to participate at the event, he was not taking it seriously. But the excess and brutality of the incident is disturbing.

Erik, Tacoma, WA

This is what the U.S. has come to. Freedom and individuality is what the U.S emphasizes the most, yet this shows how much it has been repressed in our society today. I agree with Dan C., the intervention wasn't necessary, John Kerry was willing to answer his question. In the video Mr. Kerry CLEARY says "That's alright, let me answer his question." It was also CLEARY directed the the police force that started towards him.

In honestly, the questions he asked could be declared as "personal attacks", but does that give the right for the police force to supress Mr. Meyer and TASE him at that? So does that mean he can't exercise his freedom of speech? He did resist, but not in an attacking manner. You see him moving his arms out of their grasp, not physically assaulting the officers to get out.

It brings up so many issues in the world today. We accuse Russia for "back-sliding democracy" yet this is how we treat our people.

I hope the police officers feel the smart for this action

Jessie T., Seattle, WA

First of All, I do not think all the police officers would be dumb enough to "brutally" abuse students right in front of all the media. Second, if you listen to all the commands issued by the police officers, Andrew Meyer should have COMPLY right away. (regardless he is right or wrong). He should comply and let the justice system to determine who is right later on. Instead, he was warned and did not do what he was told. That was his choice. Personally, I think the officer should just drag him out regardless in which position Andrew Meyer was in. That way will safe a lot of valuable time for other students.

People also need to understand what freedom really means. Freedom does not mean to do or speak whatever you want.

G W, Minneapolis, Minnesota

these comments are sickening...nobody realizes that the ACCENT speaker bureau who invited Kerry has the right to set up rules of conduct for the length that a question can run for, the type language used in a question...his microphone was cut for using an obscene word in his question, not to mention he broke the rules by cutting the line and was clearly belligerent to Senator Kerry. The police stepped in to enforce what ACCENT told them to do, this is blown way out of proportion. CHECK YOUR FACTS BEFORE YOU START MAKING RIDICULOUS COMMENTS. He was tased for resisting arrest, not for asking his question....

Carlos, Gainesville, FL

Dangerous misconception #1: An obnoxious person has no rights under the Consitution.

Corollary: Unpopular people deserve to be beaten and thrown in jail.

That journalists and bloggers would even argue the above shows that we need much better civics curriculum in our schools.

Michael Davidson, Intervale, NH

Meyer's 1st Amendment rights do not apply at private functions such as the Kerry forum that day. The event staff control the microphones and had no obligation to keep them open for Meyer. They had already announced the end of the question/answer period before Meyer even reached the microphone. Meyer threw a temper tantrum and the staff agreed to keep the mic open just to calm him down a bit. The content his speech wasn't that important. It was apparent the Meyer was on a jag and not letting Kerry respond despite being told to stop preaching and ask his question. At that point the organizer cut the mic and asked the cops to escort Meyer out. Meyer goes nuts, actively resisting being removed from the hall.

Meyer was not tasered to silence his !st Amendment rights or because he asked politically dangerous questions. He was tased because he actively resisted being removed from a private function his behavior was disrupting. He isn't the new Rosa Parks. He is the new Steve-O.

Brett, Dallas,

The power of the camera mobile phone. The power of the Internet and YouTube. Those cops are history. And even John Kerry didn't come across as one of the bad guys, although he could have done more to stop this disgraceful incident. Police brutality writ large.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

American Inquisition.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Japan

I can't see any reason for the officer to taser him and although he shouldnt have said those things, the police didn't have to do that.It was totally unfair.

Dylan Lozano, Merced, california

Actually, this student jumped the queue then prevented a civil exchange. If anyone limited free speech, it was Meyer. When people act in this manner, those who want to ask legitimate questions and receive answers are prevented from doing so. Defending boorish behavior merely promotes the loss of civil exchange.

Len Johnson, Fullerton, CA

Its 50 thousand volts and the police did the right thing. When an officer tells you to leave or stop just do it.

Aj, Casselberry, Florida

I Beleive The Police Should Be Fired--Even KERRY Says There Was NO Reason To TAZ Him As He Would Have Answered And Delt With The Student---If The Student Had Been Violent Then It Would Been A Different Story---To TAZ A Person WITH Handcuffs On Is UNACEPTABLE---Our Right Of Free Speech Is Being Slowly Taken Away From US---The More Things Like This Happens The MORE People Will Be Afraid To Speak And Say What They Think !!

Ronald R., RIDGEFIELD, WASHINGTON

Mr. Meyer violated one of our last remaining rights and freedoms: The right to keep your mouth shut!

Mary Thatcher, Raleigh, USA/NC

Images are emotive, more emotive than words. That's the reason that there are no words that I can choose that can fully express the horrific & unconscionable injustices that are permitted to continue around the world. The are nations in which men nor women can feel secure whilst they sleep.

This is the reason I feel I have to congratulate those students that voiced their revulsion at police brutality. Passionate, reasoned & visceral discontent with injustice is what prevents America from sinking into complete disarray.

It seems to me perfectly clear that letting institutions invested-with-power (like the police) know when they've overstepped the mark is important. After all, what's worse than an institution with almost complete power over our freedoms losing its accountability to those it’s supposed to serve?

Ayo Adeyemi, Lincoln,

funny how it is said in this report that "Event organisers were unhappy with his line of questioning and switched off the microphone as police officers moved in to escort him out of the hall."

my only issue with this is i heard him saying let me go and i'll walk out of here.

that was unlawful arrest
that was suppression of 1st ammendment rights for both Kerry and Meyers
....this can be played down all you want, but the reaction to meyers action is not acceptable, and this is america....i refuse to let it become a police state while im living in it.

Sleeping Prophet, Portland, Oregon

I agree that the taser was overboard, but get real people. The dude was obviously trying to create an incident. Watch and see how he was asking his questions and not allowing Kerry time to answer. He was simply acting like a jerk and the campus police tried to remove him from the area. When he continued "acting" up, that is when the problem grew. I consider it not to be a Freedom of Speech issue at all, it is an issue of Freedom to be a Jerk.

IMHO: The officers need to re-take a course on the use of and reason for the taser. Mr. Meyer needs to be charged for resisting arrest. If he had left peacefully with the officers, he would never have been charged with anything.

Taking tasers away from police would be a mistake, then they are left with fewer non-lethal alternatives. Tasers are almost always non-lethal.

Paul H, Dallas, TX, USA

I live in Greece and we have a law here that prohibits the entrance of police officers in every University. Education cannot be policed. What happenned at Florida is completely outrageous! Whoever Andrew Meyer was, he cannot be treated like that. It's a shame for US citizens to accept such a behaviour from police officers.

Nikolas Nisis, Athens, Greece

Um......What ever happen you freedom of speech? This is a perfect example of a total misuse of power, police are here to protect and serve, if thats where our tax dollars are going....we need change, thats why I'm in college to become a lawyer and shake up somethings!

Brandon, SUNY Farmingdale, Farmingdale, NY

John Kerry showed HIS character as a man when he DID'T step off the stage and stand up for the Constitution by stopping this episode!

Don, Ocoee, Tennessee,

This is all so silly and childish. The incident doesn't involve the "Constitution" or "free speech," so dry your eyes, Mike. In addition, Kerry did not ignore it, he tried to intervene and tell the police that he was willing to answer the questions.

Let's separate out a few issues here. Meyer is a blowhard kid who wants to draw attention to himself. That's not unusual for kids. He started yelling at the event, with no real interest in getting answers but a lot of interest in attracting attention. He went over the allotted time, at the end of the event, and he needed to be told, "Hey, little boy, that's enough!"

Where the police went wrong was playing into his personal show. They didn't need half a dozen officers to drag him out, and they certainly didn't need to tase him. Two or three officers could have removed Meyer from the scene, period. Alas, the police didn't know how to deal with such a child, and they screwed up.

Lili, Chicago, USA

The student had cut to the front of the line, pushing people out of his way. He dictated to the panel that he would ask as many questions as he liked when there were only supposed to be one with a option for a follow up. He went there loud, arrogant and abrasive seeking media attention and he got it. His over theatrical "DON'T TASE ME BRO" and screaming that he didn't do anything while resisting arrest was reason enough to get him thrown to the ground and tased. The only thing the student police were guilty of was lack of training. It had NOTHING to do with freedom of speech. He was an jackass, plain and simple. Stop holding this idiot up as some kind of poor victim.

-Luc
USA

Lucretious, Lincoln, USA

“ One officer told the Associated Press that Mr Meyer asked, presumably an assistent, “ ‘Are you taping this? Do you have this? You ready?’ before beginning his questions.” Well, of course. He obviously wanted a tape to show his questions and Kerry’s answers later on his own Webssite or Blog later. I’ve watched a video of his asking the questions. They sound to me as if he is passionate and was anxious to get in all three questions. I have heard reporters ask two questions at a time--lengthy ones too--at press conferences with Bush. That way the reporter doesn’t have to try to be called on twice, which he most probably wouldn’t be--and as Andrew Meyer most probably wouldn’t have been.

He was waving a book and I caught a glimpse of the cover. I am quite sure it said Palast-- the author who has had much to say in books and articles on the Internet about the two stolen presidential elections. This indicates to me that Meyer was well informed. As a (retired) high school teacher, I do

Kristin, Bolton, MA

There's a name for people who ask public officials difficult or embarrassing questions while being filmed. They are called "Journalists." While this student certainly displayed a lack of maturity, his questions were not offensive or inappropriate. In fact, he asked many of the same questions that the professional media has asked of Senator Kerry. To his credit, the Senator Kerry was attempting to answer the young man's questions when the event sponsors decided the student should be removed. I wish Senator Kerry had spoken up for the student and asked that security allow him to speak rather than seemingly ignoring such flagrant abuse as it happened in front of him. I expected better from Mr. Kerry. I saw no reason for the young man to be brutalized by multiple officers and a stun gun. He was not a violent threat. Police in the U.S. are abusing these tasers far too often. They are supposed to be an alternative to firearms - not an alternative to handling difficult people.

Evan, Burlington, VT

Unfortunately, the biggest tragedy is not what the Police or Onlookers did or did not do. The biggest tragedy in this case involved Senator Kerry. At no time did he even attempt to intervene. Sure, he proffered a mild "I’ll answer his questions". So what? Is this the best from the guy who wanted to be the leader of the free world could do in a crisis? He had the opportunity to show his leadership and he didn’t. This is especially disturbing given Senator Kerry’s past. Oops, did I go past my allotted sentences? Did I say something offensive? Please don’t arrest me. Please don’t tase me.

J. P. Wentworth , Inkonema, IA ,

What a thoughtful set of posts, at least the last five. I agree with all of them. America has gone down the tubes. I grew up into a police family, in Portland Oregon. The police respected citizens, who paid them. That was theoday, you have a bunch of idiots who are trained that all citizens in America are enemy combatants, criminals and out to get them. Couple that with low IQs, insecurities and power trips with a bunch of bureaucrats, worried only about their retirements, as they feast at the public trough, and you get incidents like this. The man was quoting a book, one that Kerry said he read and asking questions that the senator was willing to answer. Who decided when it was time to cut the mike? Who in the hell was the little urchin when the Senator himself was willing to answer. And which of the fake cops decided it was time for them to put their hands on him? At what point did their own views differ with Andrew Meyer's? Was it when the mike was cut? Who were the resp. tards?

ddsharper, Salisbury, NC

COMING TO BRITAIN: TASER-HAPPY COPS

Now that the TASER is being deployed across the country, incidents like this WILL happen in the UK.

FIVE cops tackling an unarmed student STILL can't resist using their electro-toys.

Don't disobey or disrespect, or even inconvenience the Boys in Blue, or you'll be shocked like an animal.

Job Lowe, Manchester,

The way I see it...it was unacceptable to use the taser gun unless the guy was being violent, in which he was NOT. He was resisting, but the police were able to detain him, then used the taser. Regardless. I don't see the need in the taser, especially in this incident. Even if the guy was wanting this on tape, he was probably going to use this as a video to show that he could "talk bad/down" to the senator. I believe that it is right that the police be suspended. In fact, they should be terminated for the simple fact that most of their job is based on JUDGEMENT; and that was NOT used!

Marty Thomas, Aiken, South Carolina

In today's America, is anyone really surprised? This entire incident is symptomatic of a society in which power plays the ultimate arbitrator. Welcome to realpolitik.

James Sandham, Toronto, Canada

Has everyone seen that two Florida State players were arrested and one tasered last night? The reason the player was tasered you ask? He became verbally aggressive with the police and then resisted arrest. Does this sound familiar to anyone? When it comes down to it, just listen to the direction of police officers, because they are here to look out for the best interests of all people. They don't always do the right thing, but the vast majority do everytime.

One more note on free speech. As many have said, free speech means that you can say anything and not be persecuted for it, it does not give you a blank check to ignore police and resist arrest because you want to ask a question. Bottom line he broke several procedural policies at the Q&A and was asked to leave, didn't and then was removed.

Brett Bennett, Gainesville, Florida

“An arrest made with a defective warrant, or one issued without affidavit, or one that fails to allege a crime is within jurisdiction, and one who is being arrested, may resist arrest and break away. " Housh v.
People, 75 111.
491; reaffirmed and quoted in State v. Leach, 7 Conn.
452; State v.
Gleason, 32 Kan. 245; Ballard v. State, 43 Ohio 349; State v Rousseau,
241 P. 2d 447; State v. Spaulding, 34 Minn. 3621.
The police didn't tell Andrew why he was being arrested.

He may have been impolite and not followed protocol for the Q&A but that's not a law-breaking act constituting arrest.

Asking passionate questions shouldn't result in bodily harm.

I hope there will be restitution to Andrew Meyer.

Monique - Trabuco Canyon, CA

Monique, Trabuco Canyon, CA

John Kerry wanted to be President?...What a meek character. Instead of taking charge, he cowered. Isn't he a Senator?....Doesn't the rank of Senator outrank a group of campus cops?...The real story hear is John Kerry's ineptitude...And I am a democrat! What a sad time in the history of the U.S. "How the mighty have fallen".

G. Wakil, Calgary, Canada

This guy definitely deserved some sanction - having the mic turned off, being booed by his peers, etc. - the normal way that blowhards are handled at these kinds of events. Sanction was deserved.

However, at a time when the US Constitution is under attack, when there are strong anti-democratic forces at work in society (no criticism, no dissent, love it or leave it or get disciplined), when there are "free speech pens" miles away from political events where demonstrators are contained... This context makes the police action extremely disturbing.

Think of how this plays internationally. When the US next criticizes China for muzzling a dissident, the world will snort with disgust.

JoJo, Canada,

What happened during this ordeal could have been handled much, much better.
Everyone is so stuck on the tasing idea and on the fact that they think the cops did the right thing that they do not see the major point behind what happened.
Andrew Meyer was trying to prove a point.
And what we did was thouroughly helped him prove it but ripping the first amendment right out from under him.
No I'm not just talking about the freedom of speech but also the freedom to question the government.
What we have done has not shown the other countries around the world a good example but instead showed them that we are just as bad as communist China.
We have rights.
Those rights bring people here.
This could have been handle much better.
I understand fully that the police were doing their job but they crossed the line.
I think its time for a wake up call America.
This is embarrassing.
I'm honestly embarrassed to say that I am an American.

Cheyenne, Clarkdale, Arizona

Comment below RIGHT ON! Yes wether the kid was or is a prankster... this is a case of ABUSE OF POWER! Clearly they could have handled the situation better. I hope he sues! Even Kerry says it was mishandled.

Sebastian, hollywood, ca

And these people teach us democracy...

Pocur, Moscow,

We look at what the cops did in terms of necessity, and they obviously had Meyer controlled by the time they tased him and could have just carried him out. Fire the cops involved in the tasing- it was just as unnecessary to tase him as it would have been to put a bullet in the back of his head.
We cannot say that "he got what he deserved" because this would justify killing minority groups that are "acting out" in society and is a poor excuse for an unnecessary act.

Tom, los angeles, california,

America... Land of the Free.

Mark , Birmingham, UK

As usual the conflict between the world of a Police Force and our rights is clearly defined in the US. He should have been forcibly removed from the premises (after being allowed to make his point) but of course we can't do that any more....

William Lyons, Liverpool,

What happened to giving police officers respect?
That is a big problem in this country!
4 police officers have been shot in the last week here in S FLA.
Its all of our faults- parents do not teach kids to respect the law!

Frances, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

I disagree with Mike Bellman for a number of reasons.
1.) This was not John Kerry's doing. He did not know the taser was to be used and it is unclear how much he saw or heard from the dias.
2.) In Florida, it is a felony to violently resist a police arrest, even if you turn out to be not guilty of what you are arrested for. Except in the most extreme circumstances, it is a bad idea for lay bystanders to judge for themselves the validity of an attempted arrest and try aiding the resister.
3.) This was not a case of someone being tasered simply for speaking out. Free speech does not give you the right to disrupt someone else's meeting, or to remain on another's property after you have been asked to leave, or to violently resist a police officer's arrest. It was the student and not the police who escalated this. Had he simply allowed the police to escort him out when he was first asked to leave, there would have been no problem. He intended to create an incident and did.

Jay Callaghan, New York City,

Is this free America?

Alpie, Izmir, Turkey

If you call this democracy and right to free speach, I'd rather live in Iran.

Mike, NY,

isn't it illegal that the police didn't clearly state what he was being arrested for when he asked?

Laura, baltmore,

Can you imagine the uproar this would have caused had this occured at a Republican event? The press, the college, and the students would all blame the Republicans for Gestapo tactics to silence unfavorable questioning.
In this cas, though, poor senator Kerry seems to be as much a victim as the tazed student.

Bill, Des Moines,

Is Florida University in Russia? Students being Tasered for asking questions on academical field? Anybody considered the fact that they have been reported cases of people dying when Tasered? Do we have to risk death for asking questions at a university these days?

Lydia, chicago, IL

John , You are absolutely right .. There wasnt any coverage on the actual questions posed by Meyer and the book he was referring to. I had to pause the video several times and read the name of the book in Meyer's hands.. I am also surprised no one has asked this in the user comments / blogs.. You have made a good point.

James, Los Angeles, CA

What does this say about John Kerry? I understand if there are a lot of people who don't know what to do about a situation like that. But didn't he ignore it like everybody else? Is that supposed to be "leadership behavior"?

Cristian Jansenson, Atlanta, Georgia

The "Freedom of Speech" question ends when this gentleman is approached by sworn officers, even if only campus police, and asked to leave the premises. From that moment on, he was resisting arrest, and no longer exercising his right to peaceful protest. He was grandstanding. If he felt his treatment was unjustified, he had recourse: a formal protest, an Op-Ed piece in a local paper. Without a doubt, local news casters would have been drooling to interview him, even if he had allowed himself to be escorted peacefully from the building. Someone asked, "When does the torture begin here for those who dare to speak?" Good question, if you are asking it about the likes of a Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King, or even a Thomas Paine. This guy is none of those. Well, on second thought, he may be a bit of a Pain.

Robert Keilitz, Caro, Michigan

While I am ALL for freedom of speech and never, ever feel such tactics are always necessary let's all take a sec to
review. 1st, this young man was RUDE and jumped the
line ahead of others, yet still given the right to speak.
2nd- He was told his allotted time was UP and asked to
finish, he did not and upon being removed was not cooperating.....I'm not sure tasering WAS necessary but
what I am sure here is that all the comments I've read seem
to have dropped the ball............
He hardly deserves that much slack............

Nick, Union, NJ

The comments here are all missing the point - his arrest and tasering had nothing to do with free speech. The college was absolutely correct to remove him from the stand because they obviously recognized that the kid was pulling a stunt, NOT exercising any free speech rights.

He would have been escorted out, and told to not pull stunts like that again and maybe have a college reprimand. But he resisted the officers who were doing a perfectly legitimate thing, and because he wouldn't stop resisting, he got tased.

If he were a drug dealer resisting in the same way, we would all say that the tasering was justified. Anyone resisting a legitimate arrest in the same way as this kid was should expect a taser shock.

Ray McElravy, Pittsburg, PA

The student involved was clearly "baiting" and was clearly a Trouble maker of sorts, BUT clearly the whole situation was handled wrong by the Campus Police. The Senator was ready to answer his question and should have been allowed to do so.

The student was nearly finished making a Fool of himself, and he should have been tolerated a few more seconds, had his microphone turned off and let the Senator Answer.
Actually I would have loved to hear the anwer to the Skull and Bones Question.

mike, Tampa, Fl

A taser is supposed to be used to temporarily incapacitate someone while restraints can be applied. What? He was already handcuffed? Sounds like someone gets their rocks off by torturing people. Arrest the person with the taser! (Of course Mr. Meyer was asking for trouble but that is no reason to apply a taser.)

John, Austin, USA

Absolutely disgusting on the part of the police and organisers. I am truly appalled.

Andrew should have been allowed to ask those questions, even if they were distasteful to the organisers. Did the organisers want a true open forum, or an artificial, tightly controlled and heavily censored question and answer session?

This occurred in the USA, the supposed bastion of democracy and freedom. What happened to freedom of speech (this was not a sufficient reason to limit it).

Whatever Andrew's motives were, the actions of the organisers and police were completely over the top and they should be dealt with in the harshest manner legally possible. He did not do anything that warranted being physically touched by the police in the first place. I can understand his reaction. And once he resisted, the use of a taser was extremely brutal and completely unnecessary.

I can only imagine my outrage and disbelief if I had been dealt with in the same manner while merely trying to ask a question.

Darren Garber, Perth, Australia

America wake up. Your democracy is bleeding! Home grown terrorist (robbing our freedom) are on march.
If I don't see a national protest, particularly by all Universities and Citizen groups, I would belive America is on decline as a nation.

Umakant Patel, Farmington Hills, USA/MICHIGAN

Adrew is just another example of a hanging chad in mighty Florida, the law goes to the highest money or private (?)bidder, or the states best friend and his or her agenda. go figure?
So I still don't know if Andrew's question if Kerry is a member of the skull and bones society was ever answerd. for that matter if any of the questions he asked were answerd...but he learned not to ask questions period; they can be shocking answers that come from it.

TWCarr, Springfield, USA/MO

sometime some people get what they deserve.

Lee , Charlotte,

I'm amazed all but one person here acknowledged the fact that Andrew Meyer may have brought it upon himself by breaking the rules first. The taser incident happened after 1) he jumped the queue; 2) asked a series of questions when he was allowed one; 3) yelled and screamed at an organized school event when he was instructed to leave after breaking the rules; 4) resisting and struggling when he was to be escorted out of the room. From early on he showed a sign of aggression, in the presence of many other students as well as a senator. While I think the taser bit might be uncalled for, Andrew Meyer himself pretty much did more than enough to escalate the event to what it became.

Royce, San Francisco, CA

What a sad society we are. Tasers are now the solution. I didn't particularly like how this student was behaving but to taser him? Sickening.

Janice, Miami, USA - Florida

Wow. Wish I lived in the Land of the Free.

This is what comes from a culture of fear.

Luke, Cambridge,

Although the video is difficult to watch, the situation was must be analyzed by rule of law, which is best paralleled to a traffic stop. If you are pulled over by a police officer, even though you haven't committed a crime, you must peacefully and considerately respond to the officer's requests. The issue of whether the initial act was right or wrong is beside the point.

Had he acted calmly and complied with the officers, he would not have been tazed to begin with.

EVEN IF YOU HAVE NOT COMMITTED A CRIME, you are required BY LAW to comply with a police officer's requests or at least remain calm. The issue of freedom of speech is a whole different court case.

Furthermore, citizens MAY NOT RESIST ARREST, as it is a serious crime that places the officers in potential danger.

Think back to the civil rights era, we need to follow Dr. King's teachings and PEACEFULLY protest. Violence from either side will rarely progress an issue!

L. Lbs., Des Moines, IA, Des Moines, Iowa

Bravery? Really? I don't understand the need to throw the words "bravery" and "hero" and similar praise around like candy to those who deserve no such compliments. Regardless of this child's behavior being right or wrong he was anything but brave. He cut in front of a student who had waited to speak. This was obnoxious and unacceptable behavior and should not be applauded it should be derided. He spoke rudely and disrespectfully which is unnecessary in a reasonable discussion among adults and is another example of the direction the political world is going. The officers let him speak, as Kerry said to do and then proceeded to detain him after he continued to be loud. Kerry tried to calm them but then he started resisting them, becoming violent. Perhaps the taser did not have to be used, I do not believe it clear from the video whether he was continuing to resist arrest, but why is it acceptable to use it on a drug dealer doing the same thing & not a badly spoiled white kid?

Nicole, Albany,

Justin - just move! Canada is still civilised (relatively).

Toby, Toronto, CANADA PROUDLY

It's pretty weak to tase someone after they have been hand cuffed.

Todd, Costa Mesa, CA

First off, I am against Meyer and all of his actions. I think that the police tasing him is not as bad as people are making it out to be. He refused to cooperate and was trying to get other people to rally behind him, against the officers and those against him.

Also, when I first heard about this story, I was told that he didn't have a ticket for entry, and therefore had to sneak in. Is there any truth to that statement?

Third, his website is www.theandrewmeyer.com, although I highly recommend not going to the site as that was probably his goal in doing all of this.

Dirk, Cleveland,

Free speech does not give you the right to be heard.
Free speech says that you can say anything you want and not be in fear of being arrested for what you say.
This foolish young man was not arrested for speaking, or for what he said. He was arrested because he was disturbing the public.
I agree with Voltaire when he said, " I may not agree with what you say but I will defend to my dying day your right to say it."
You can still stand at the back of a crowded theatre and shout "fire" and that is your right. And it is also the law that the action is illegal.
If you are being arrested, and you resist the police have the obligation to make you submit. I know people have problems with authority, but that doesn’t change the law.
In my opinion the police did what they were trained to do and as such should be commended.
For the people who think that tasers should be abandoned because they have led to people dying should look at the statistics of accidental deaths. No list for tasers.

Rev. Steven Smith, Joplin, MO

If you watch the video carefully, you will see that Kerry pointed to him and said "sir," indicating it was his turn to speak, and Meyer spent about 10 seconds politely thanking Kerry for coming, then began in a pleasant and animated tone presenting background information for his questions. After 20 seconds of such background information -- I timed it -- an officer interrupted him, and argued with him to stop or leave for 15 seconds, eventually acquiescing to Meyer continuing. Less than a minute later, the microphone was cut off and two officers -- without saying anything -- grabbed Meyer and forceably tried to drag him away from the podium. Meanwhile, Kerry instructed the officers to let Meyer alone so he could answer what Kerry referred to as "important questions."

The video is in stark contrast with police reports, in which several officers presented a very different account than what you can witness on youtube with your own eyes.

jeff hersh, austin, tx

Resisting arrest may be a crime, but being annoying isn't, cutting in line isn't a crime, and asking a question isn't a crime, regardless if his motivations were genuine or merely publicity seeking. Meyer should not even have been approached. He was not a threat. He was merely boisterous and obnoxious (not crimes, and clearly even more deserving of First Amendments protections, since he was an unpopular speaker) and the police should not have even gone near him, never mind tasing him, bro.

Scott Mercer, Los Angeles, California

Oh, if you are loud and disrespectful and disrupt a meeting, you get tasered and handcuffed and locked in a cell for the night. Isn’t that all part of the right of free speech anymore?

Michael, Surrey, UK

Flashes of Tiananmen Square, June 1989...

Tatiana, London,

Andrew Meyer did not deserve to be tased by campus police. Watching several videos of the incident, you realize the kid is heated and wanted answers to his questions; questions that even Kerry said were "important." The police took the matter in their own hands even though Meyer showed no threat of being offensive or violent. When the cops got him to the back, all the videos I have seen, he appeared to be down on the ground and cuffed; so why did they tase him? You even hear Meyer say, right before "Don't tase me bro!" he would leave if they let him go. Instead, you hear the one female officer say "do it, do it!" So did this kid deserve police brutality? ABSOLUTELY NOT. We are Americans. We are supposed to have the right of free speech. However, in Florida, I guess that is a big no-no.

Kayla, Bloomsburg, PA

he was on the ground and they tased him. cowards if you ask me. real cowards. ive seen cops throw drunk football players into the back of cop cars without tasing them, but this is america the beutiful we live in.

bill pear, Black River Falls, wi

The Officers should be fired along with the Chief of Police and the training Officer. Protect and Serve. Who were they Protecting and who were they Serving? That young man did nothing wrong! Well this is one University my kids won't be attending!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bob, Indiana, Pa

Great entertainment!! There's no accountability for actions anymore. 50,000 volts may have been excessive, but this KID needed to be knocked down a few pegs, and taught to show some respect.

Definately already have a "Don't tase me, bro" t-shirt ordered.

Ben, West Reading, PA

He got what he deserved ! He's a real trouble maker !

Nguyen Tri, ANTIOCH, 37013, TN.

He did NOT deserve to be tased AFTER he had been placed in handcuffs. That was completely ridiculous. In fact, he did not deserve to be placed in handcuffs AT ALL! I know that it was a private event and while you have the right to say what you feel/think/believe, you can't very well go around and disrupt private events without paying the penalty. However, the penalty should NOT be being brutalized. He could have been removed from the venue without being treated so harshly and if 4 cops couldn't get one boy out in a civilized manner, then they should have just let him speak his peace. Kerry is a big boy and can stick up for himself.

I love that people from other countries use whatever opportunity they can to bash all Americans. As if we are all pleased that this happened to this student. Way to go Jem from UK, you are such an individualist with your blatant distaste for Americans. You go on with your bad self you maverick renegade, you.

Malissa, St. Petersburg, FL

ha! and to think we have ignorant americans warning us on this website every day that the uk is slidng towards sharia law and 3rd world status. who needs "foreigners" and their intolerant religion when you've got your own stalinist/taleban police force, eh? don't stand in tiananmen square if you don't want to get run over by a tank.

"in the 60's you took your nightstick to the head and didn't complain." happy days, happy days. I'm wiping away a nostalgic tear here, buddy.

mr meyer was clearly being deliberately disruptive, but not dangerous, and the way he was dealt with should be embarrassing to you all. indeed, it should be worrying. it's all very well saying meyer was being a bit of a jerk and got what he deserved, but you might feel differently should you feel the inclination to protest or behave in any way which some might find slightly annoying. who's to say what they'd have done to him if the cameras hadn't been rolling?

jem, london, uk

Andrew Meyer got exactly what he deserved. This was a private event hosted by the group known as Accent. This group brings prominent figures to campus to speak at private events all the time. Often times these speakers are paid a fee, but Kerry being a current member of the US Senate did not charge.

For you people that are saying his speech rights were infringed upon, what about the rights of Accent to conduct an orderly, private event in the fashion that they desire?

Yes, you have the right to grill your congressmen, but you have the right to do that on your dime, not someone else's. Andrew Meyer was warned repeatedly that if he did not comply with the officers he would be tased. He chose not to comply, and, therefore, chose to be tased.

Also, the police officers report that when the cameras weren't around Meyer was telling them they did nothing wrong and that they were just doing their job. That's the talk of someone who was just violated (sarcasm).

Brian, Gainesville, USA, Fl

He was looking for a scene and got it. When he was escorted to the door he could have stopped there, but no. Freedom of speech does not mean you can violate my right to listen to some boring John Kerry speech. I love the video and the guys sitting around him snickering as it is going down. He got what he deserved and I can't help but laugh every time I see it. I ordered the shirt tonight from http://rdr.zazzle.com/img/imt-dzn/pd-235780789177725889/tl-don_t_taze_me_bro_shirt.jpg?isz=m. What a hoot!

Vanilla Heat, Phoenix, az

Regardless if it was a planned event OR NOT, that's not the point. The point is cops in the U.S. are OUT OF CONTROL. You ask any psyco cop in America if they get a rush exerting power over others and they will confess to you YES! And they LOVE to pull the trigger! Innocent until proven guilty has been replaced by GUILTY UNTIL FINAL SENTENCING.

Harvey Weinstein, Hollywood, California

HE WAS NOT TASSERED! I dont know if anyone has thought about this but think of all the cops and wildest police chases video clips you have seen. Now remember what happens when somebody gets tassered. They stop what thier doing and thier muscles convulse because of the electricity. Watch the tape over again and you will notice that he continues to yell. You cant yell and argue when you have 50 thousand volts going through your body. Also since several of the officers were still in contact with him they would also have been shocked. Common sense people, common sense. Also no matter the initial reason for getting the officers attention if you resist you will only get yourself into more trouble. If he truly did nothing wrong to begin with then he could have just gone to the jail with the officers, called his lawyer, and maybee gotten some money and media attention. But this guarantees that 15minutes of fame. Personally I think he deserved whatever he got and not the sympathy. Stupid clown

Joshua, Lethbridge, Canada

That his free speech was abridged is of more importance than the manner in which he was arrested. A politician taking open questions from the public should expect some dissent. However, once he started flailing at officers, especially with one handcuff on (which can easily poke out someone's eye), he should have expected to be treated harshly. Officers are paid to win the fight, not to fight by Queensbury Rules, or silly liberal notions of "minimum force".

While his screaming performance was certainly blood-curdling (Academy Award, anyone?), keep in mind that EVERY police officer who carries a Taser HAS TO GET SHOT WITH ONE FIRST. While momentarily painful, it causes no lasting injury, and is certainly better than a dislocated shoulder from having one's arms wrenched behind your back. He knew what would happen, and planned accordingly, including pre-arranging for someone to video his arrest.

Marco, Miami, FL USA

In the video I saw of the event, everyone applauded when the police attempted to remove him from the auditorium. He was apparently rambling on for a long time and not allowing Kerry to speak. The situation was calm, until he broke away from the one officer trying to lead him out. Then more officers came to help, struggling to control him, and trying to remove him. After a few minutes, he was told to stop resisting or he'd be tasered. He was cursing and yelling, being very crude and rude, and trying to get away from the officers. The scene outside the auditorium was just as bad with his constant yelling at the officers. He deserved what he got. When an officer tells you to be quiet and to leave, the smart thing to do would be to comply. If you don't, you will mostly likely, at minimum, be arrested.

Dave, Richmond, VA USA

If this was a planned event by Meyer, it puts into question how predictable the abuse of authority / power is.

David Holley, Ann Arbor, MI

He did not use any violent force against the officers so they were not in their right to use a taser or even throw him to the ground. This is excessive force and police brutality.

., .,

And we can get merchandise:

http://www.cafepress.com/dontasemebro1
http://www.cafepress.com/dontasemebro2

They have even tile coasters.
I can't believe it!

Jaca Fonder, Madrid,

Mr. Meyer is a baffling boy, what he did is a stupid action.

Lin, China, GZ

Additionally, Meyer resisted with force when the officers attempted to remove him from the room. Again, not because of his questions (I've heard ALL of those questions before, they're not that controversial) but because of his unruly behavior.

Once he began to resist, they were within their rights to restrain him. They had him on the ground and he continued to struggle with them. He's told to roll over onto his stomach, and he refuses. If you watch the video, a police officer CLEARLY STATES: "You will be tased if you do not stop." I'm sure Meyer heard it, you can hear it clearly on the video and the camera was at least 10 yards away.

At this point, he has a decision to make. It would be a simple one for me. On the one hand I can continue a futile struggle against 4-6 police officers, several of them MUCH larger than me, and get tased. On the other hand I can cooperate and save myself from being tased. Meyer took the idiot's path.

Adam Crabtree, Ocala, FL, USA

I love how some of the people who write these little clippings blow things way out of proportion in hopes to lead peoples minds into believing he was a bad kid doing bad things.I saw the video and despite if he was there to spark attention or to ask a question in wich millions of us seen him do.it doesn't matter if he had a video camera.If they would of given it a little time and let him finish and let SEN keary answer this could of all been avoided.And if the kid went on after that i don't think anyone would of disagreed with action to take him out of there.its a stamp on our civil rights and anyone who supports the actions took appall me.I say we as americans call for those officers badges and strict discipline,so we make sure that next time someone wants to take away our freedoms whose supposed to be helping protect our freedoms will think twice about the consequences.

chrs pounds, san antonio, tx

Those pigs should be tied to posts and publicly tased non-stop for 1 year. Then they should be imprisoned in solitary confinement for the rest of their lives.

Jah Jojo, Boca Raton, Florida

I'm shocked!

I watched the video from start to finish. Meyer didn't even get to finish asking his question when someone motioned for them to take him away. The reason he didn't leave is because he was confused as to why they wouldn't let him finish and he stood his ground. I would've acted the same way; he finally had his chance to ask Senator Kerry a question and got crapped on by the authorities. Why? What did he say?

I keep reading that he was "rude" or "disorderly", but in watching those videos (from different angles) I do not see that. He fought back out of fear and confusion! Tasing him was unecessary; there were more than enough cops. He was already held down when they tased him.

I don't understand why this happened, had he cursed at Kerry or threatened him in some way, then I could see the reason behind the force and taser.

I hope justice comes to Mr. Meyer, he deserves it!

Jaelle, Tallahassee, FL, USA

If the officers had guns, he'd have been shot or pistol whipped. Maybe it's a good thing they only had tasers. From now on arm them with squirt guns or cream pies.

billyjoe, ohio

billyjoe, castalia, ohio

I think this is absolutely unacceptable and completely goes against what this country stands for. I'm sure his legitimate questions were undesirable, well, boo-hoo. I didn't know that asking a series of questions was means of "provoking a riot" which was initially what the female police officer told him after he was taken down to a different section of the hall. I believe tasers should be outlawed on school campuses, and i believe these police officers should be arrested and convicted of police brutality and/or assault.

Garrett Delgado, San Antonio, Texas

Clear case of inappropriate and excessive use of police force. All the police involved in the incident should be disciplined for this outrage. The guy had done nothing wrong and Kerry was even prepared to answer his questions.

David , Plymouth, UK

I think most of you are overreacting by bringing this to a national and world event. These are campus police. They are inexperienced and incapable of handling even this minor disturbance.

I do not see this as anything more than Campus police botching their assinged duties. They should be fired, but hardly reflective of the job we expect police to do. In this world of significant crime and violence the police are called on to do very difficult things while measuring their reaction. The police make a lot of mistakes...but it hardly means that they any more an element of the national authorities (these were local campus police) than they ever were.

Russell, SAN FRANCISCO,

I agree with all the comments that he deserved it. He wanted his 15 minutes of fame. He was hoping something like this would happen so he could populate his website with new material. But I would like to add one thing no one has mentioned. If he were truly tasered he would not have been speaking at all, he would have been twitching. So more than likely all he got was sting to remind him that the time to struggle and resist them was over. If he was ever taught anything about respect in his life, he would have walked out of that auditorium when asked. THE END

Angela, Honolulu,

The kid was being a complete geeky jerk but he is allowed! The police over-reacted but that seems to be the way with the current Zeitgeist of fear and lies.

2 million CCTV cameras in britain, just in Britain alone now .... police keeping DNA profiles of innocent people.... Governments regularly invading peoples privacy..... fake coups and compliant media.... big business politicians and nasty religious mad-men.

After so many years of fighting communism western democracy seems to have decided that compliance is indeed what the people needed all along. All of this in the one country where freedom was supposed to be enshrined in law and convention.

Truly sad.

Adam, Valencia, spain

Mr. Meyer was told his time was up, he was asked to sit down, he refused. The police told him to sit down, he refused, he was removed from the forum for not following the rules of common decency. This had nothing whatsoever to do with freedom of speech. Mr. Meyer was rude and inconsiderate to EVERYBODY in that forum. The only issue here is did the police need to taser him? I wasn't there, and either were any of you, don't judge the police for something you know nothing about.

Doug, Bloomington, Indiana, USA

Whatever happened to freedom of speech.
This is pure facism/stalinism (same thing when it comes to human rights).
Naomi Wolf's new book is very informative.
Nazi Germany started with legal "black-holes" (like Guantanmo) where the law could be circumvented on a technicality.
I fear that those of you out there who do not object to this kind of action are either brainwashed or Nazi's yourselves...Just hope Sarkozy doesn't take us down the same road in France!

Rob, Paris, France

Do I agree with the students crude behavior? No.

Should he have been tased? Absolutely not. You meant to tell me that the five officers present on video couldn't strong-arm a 21-year-old student with a beer gut without using a weapon?

Perhaps they just need better training.

Ryan, Moscow, Idaho

I would hope a hefty fine and possible prosecution can be levied against the officers. They went 'way overboard' in this matter. They are trained to handle these situations without the means of such actions. 1 man against a 'group' of officers. Apparently they missed the behavioral class in the academy. I really hope for the best for him through his attorney.

Ed, Garland,

Your ashamed to live in America? Really? Because of this incident? This incident was one in a long line of attention-getting schemes by a childish boy who rejects all rules of civil engagement. Freedom of Speech does not entitle you to any means of behavior. If he doesn't like your car, does that mean he can take a baseball bat to it? He went to this event with the express intent of creating his 15 minutes of fame. Just look at his dribble on his website. Remember that he filmed the event on his on camera and made sure it was rolling before jumping in line to stage his own drama. He intentionally escalated his own departure to ensure that something newsworthy would be caught on tape. I do not condone tasering after handcuffs, if that is what happened, but he should not be any further compensated than his 15 minutes of shame.

Susan, Tampa, FL

Mr. Donaldson, well put. They should never be allowed to hide behind a badge.

ed, Garland,

There is a time honored skill to being Chariman to a debate and to lose this and replace with bully-boys who render helpless then indulge in sadistic abuse rings a sorry sorry bell for the end of a great nation.

pc, Cambridge, England

This case shows that what is happening is exactly what opponents of stun-guns have always said: that these stun-guns aren't going to be used in place of real guns, to lower the number of deadly incidents, but instead as a kind of cattle-prod used by authorities to punish unruly individuals. Congratulations, U.S., you're going head-on towards the totalitarian police state where pain is being used to keep the population in line.

Matt, Wuerzburg, Germany

Every single person on this site who's asserting Mr. Meyer got what he deserved fails to realize one very basic point - that while you may not LIKE his form of expression, or AGREE with it, or even RESPECT it, he still had the RIGHT to it. He didn't curse at Kerry; he didn't "take time away" from any other students - he was the LAST SPEAKER, and they weren't even going to originally allow him to ask the one question.

For those of you mentioning that he wanted to ask three questions instead of one, listen to yourselves! Grilling our leaders is a national pastime, and Mr. Kerry himself said he was willing to answer the questions.

Finally, if indeed Mr. Meyer attempted to provoke the incident by playing the cad, that should be a reflection on his character. That's what the intended consequence of freedom of expression is - that you have the RIGHT to express yourself, but the rest of society has the RIGHT to call you an blithering idiot, too. Not taser and jail the guy.

Dan

Dan L., Louisville, Kentucky, What used to be the USA

HEADLINE: MAN WITH BOOK SUBDUED AND TASERED
Does this look like something that should appear in the text of any newspaper in any civilized nation? Didn't think so.

Patrick Donges, Albany, NY, USA

Andrew Meyer is a legend.

DJB, Hereford, England

Absolutely disgusting on the part of the police and organisers. I am truly appalled.

Andrew should have been allowed to ask those questions, even if they were distasteful to the organisers. Did the organisers want a true open forum, or an artificial, tightly controlled and heavily censored question and answer session?

This occurred in the USA, the supposed bastion of democracy and freedom. What happened to freedom of speech (this was not a sufficient reason to limit it).

Whatever Andrew's motives were, the actions of the organisers and police were completely over the top and they should be dealt with in the harshest manner legally possible. He did not do anything that warranted being physically touched by the police in the first place. I can understand his reaction. And once he resisted, the use of a taser was extremely brutal and completely unnecessary.

I can only imagine my outrage and disbelief if I had been dealt with in the same manner while merely trying to ask a question.

Darren Garber, Perth, Australia,

I want to hear Kerry answer those questions that Andrew took those shocks for!!!

pat dunn, north hollywood,

..I serve this country for 25 yrs in the military, USMC, and it is sad how all of us are conducting our lives...young people acting very disrespectfull, and law enforcement abousing powers...what is going on in this nation???

Ernesto O. Roldan
USMCR

Ernesto O. Roldan, Carson, california

When the Police ask you to put your hands behind your back, that's what you do. Even if you think you're in the right, even if you know you're in the right, you do what the police ask in a speedy manner. In this way, you do not get tased. There is no ffree speech issue here, he asked his stupid question which Kerry was obviouslly not going to answer case closed. He then attemped to hijack the whole meeting for his own agenda. Seeing this, the Police attemped to escort him back to his seat in an attempt to maintain order and allow the procedings to continue. The idiot twists and squirms and resists all the while. He was warned that he'd be tased if he continued to resist which he did while asking not to be tased. He was in complete control the whole time over whether or not he would be tased and he chose to be tased of his own free will. The complete and utter Pansification of America's youth is now complete. In the 60's you took your nightstick to the head and didn't complain.

Mike B, New York, NY,

Yes he has the right to free speech, and the right to be an asshole in public, and the right to be tazed for not following police instructions. Try pulling that stuff overseas and a night in jail and metal taste in you mouth would be the least of your worries. You can perfom civil disobedience in many ways; this one did not work.

Dustin, Berkeley, CA

What are the protocols for the police deciding to Taser someone? The Taser is a dangerous weapon, people have died after being Tasered.
It is a great piece of equipment for police to have, but it should only be used in fairly extreme circumstances, where it would be genuinely dangerous to physically restrain a suspect.

mikhailovitch, Sydney, Australia

It doesn't matter if this was for attention or not. The simple fact is, Mr. Kerry obviously didn't feel threatened and was prepared to answer the dicy questions. Police should not have interferred. They made the situation worse by trying to quiet the boy, when they should have just let him speak and be done with it.

Amanda, Newcomerstown, Ohio

Mr. Kerry could have stopped it...he had a microphone and could have intervened. The students watching aimlessly could have shouted, or made a move to block the situation from occurring. It appears that even students now have become de-sensitized to unreasonable police brutality on fellow students. This is a very sad time for America when free speech, guaranteed by the Constitution, is once again being ignored and this time through an unnecessary tazing of one of its citizens. America needs to re-evaluate who it is, and what they want America to stand for, basing its conclusions on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. Shame on that audience ... indicative of what America has become!

Frank, San Diego, CA

My question is, what was the purpose of Mr. Kerry addressing the student body? Was it for polite applause from a docile student audience? Or was it to stimulate a dialogue about issues of concern to students. This action by the police is reminiscent of the brownshirts in the 30's and some of the more egregious actions of the police at Bush rallies. There is no excuse to attack a non-violent speaker at a public forum by anyone, especially on a college campus that professes to believe in the right of citizens expressing their opinions.

Joe McPhee, New York, New York

Even if Andrew was having himself taped, that doesn't suggest that he deserved to be brutalized like that. The poor kid just wanted to take an interest in politics, which is sadly scarce in most other people his age. I also agree with the students' protest to remove stun guns from the campus. In some states citizens aren't even allowed to purchase stun guns for personal protection, while they are allowed to purchase firearms for the same reason. Charges against him should be dropped and the officers responsible should be properly disciplined.

Thomas, West Seneca, New York

Are police not peacekeepers? did not see anywhere in the video that the police actually spoke to Mr. Meyer trying to calm him down to remove him from the situation. Instead, they grab him, pulling him to remove him from the room. Mr. Meyer was unarmed and ended up being in handcuffs when he was tasered. Better police training is needed. People should not be afraid of the police. Peace.

Peace, San Francisco,

This incident has NOTHING to do with "Free Speech." This kid was being rowdy, disruptive, and disorderly, so he needed to be removed. His freedom of speech doesn't trump the rights of others to hear Kerry speak, nor Kerry's right to do so.

A separate topic is whether the campus security used proper security protocol and/or whether their protocol should be changed. Unfortunately, many people who see this video (especially those in Europe who have a love/hate relationship with the U.S.) will likely be unable to separate these issues.

Sheldon, San Ramon, USA/California

It seems that many people think that any action they take is their right. This mans actions were uncivil and disruptive. That seems to be the norm at most colleges. This man was just seeking publicity not real interaction with Sen. Kerry. What kind of fools are most of you who support him? What kind of uncivil world are you leading us to?

Tom Patterson, Denver, CO

I don't understand why no one helped him. I would have been out of my chair in then in a cell with that guy. My actions would probably not be right but, their actions were completely wrong. How do we support this guy? Surely there is something we can do.

Frank, Dallas, Texas

Mr. Meyer was given the option to leave the building. He refused. He was then told he was being arrested, and he resisted. He was then warned that if he continued to be arrested he would be tased. Then he was appropriately tasered to further subdue him. What about that do you people who say "he was tortured" or that Kerry should have gotten involed or that his rights were violated, not understand? He got what was coming to him.

Dan Williams, Halifax, Virginia

This is a blatant disrespect of authority. Mr. Meyer was given numerous opportunities to follow the instructions of law enforcement officers to comply. He did not and therefore was tased. I see absolutely nothing wrong with the actions of the University Police officers. Had Mr .Meyer complied with the orders of the police department, I would suspect he would have been released without arrest. We should all take a lesson from the actions of Mr. Meyer and remember there are ramifications for our actions.

Duane, Gainesville, Florida

"The land of the free and the home of the brave" strikes again. Thank goodness for tasers, though, otherwise the student would have been shot.

Bill Peter, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

If Mr. Meyer was truly interested in getting his questions answered by Senator Kerry he would have posed them with the demeanor required of the forum. Instead Mr. Meyer was more interested in creating a disturbance. The fact that security was called upon to dismiss him is not a sign of the organizers' will to suppress his freedom of speech, but rather an indication that he violated the decorum of the event. Freedom of speech is not the right to say whatever you want whenever you want. It's the right to organize your own forum to express your own beliefs. He chose not to cooperate with security. He chose to resist arrest. He chose to violate the sanctity of the forum. I say all this without even having to bring up the fact that he runs a website featuring his own pranks which of course casts further aspersions on his motives. That being said, if it's true that he was tasered after being handcuffed then, yes, the use of excessive force should be questioned.

Rudy, Pasadena, California

Maybe it's time to join the ACLU, while we still have a chance. The abrogation of civil rights in the U.S. has been slow and methodical post 9/11/2001. All the while, our children are sent half way around the world to die for freedom. Act now, act now, for the love of god, do something.

www.aclu.org

rufous, Baltimore, MD

The positive thing to come out of all this (besides fame and hopefully a juicy settlement for Meyer) is that people will now be more interested in the actual issues he brought up, not to mention Greg Palast’s (pron:ˈpaləst) brilliant and terrifying book, Armed Madhouse — a must read for anybody who is even slightly concerned about the validity of our election process. Remember Stalin’s (in)famous utterance: “The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything.”
Wake up call!!!

bunosuke, Saitama, Japan

I guess no one thinks there are consequences to your ACTIONS anymore. HAVE YOUR SAY, but when your mic gets cut, take your seat. I have no problem with him speaking his mind, even if it's rude or offensive, but that's not what got him tasered. His actions, his refusal to calm down or leave, is what got him tasered and arrested.

Jen, tulsa, ok

America wake up. Your democracy is bleeding! Home grown terrorist (robbing our freedom) are on march.
If I don't see a national protest, particularly by all Universities and Citizen groups, I would belive America is on decline as a nation.

Umakant Patel, Farmington Hills, USA

Let's look on the bright side. I have heard that people who ask unpleasant questions in Saudi Arabia are executed. Here they are only arrested.

Dave, Irvine,

Most likely, Meyer had someone filming him for the purpose of capturing the dialogue between he and Kerry, not the security guard incident. Even if he expected the security officers to react with unnecessary force, it doesn't mean they had a right to do so.

Taylor, Scottsdale,

I cannot even believe this happened. First of all, I think Meyer was comletely within his rights to ask any question he would like to Mr. Kerry. That is, unless, our constitution means nothign to anyone anymore. Also, who decides which questions are appropriate in the first place. In my opinion, I think all of Meyer's questions were appropriate, and I'm still waiting for Mr. Kerry to answer them. As for payback, Meyer should be able to tase the guy that tased him! Eye for an eye, right?

Stephanie Haskins, Aliso Viejo, California

Meyer had his mike shut off, and was given every opportunity by the authorities to leave peacefully. The police did not do anything wrong in tazing him. They have a specific job to do, and were acting accordingly. Meyer has no one but himself to blame for his actions. Hopefully he can learn accountablility and understand that everywhere in life, there are consequences to your actions. It is a lesson few college student learn along the way.

Mark, Providence, RI

Andrew Meyer was using his opportunity to speak but however referring to the text above, "Event organisers were unhappy with his line of questioning and switched off the microphone as police officers moved in to escort him out of the hall. " (par. 4), they were unhappy and therefore stopped him from speaking. He had the right to speak. Even though Meyer could have walked out of the building without the struggle of police officers. However, it did not happen. I believe the tazering took it to another level. I have noticed that numerous medias keep on mentioning the tazers and showing demonstrations of them on their network. The simple question is: Why did they decide to stop him from speaking, just because they do not like what Meyer said? He has the right to speak, Freedom of Speech.

Elsie, Tampa, FL

I think it is silly to say he deserved it because he wanted attention. He could have been taping to simply record Kerry's responses. How could he have anticipated the campus police becoming involved by just asking a question. All he did was ask a question...Is that worthy of police escort? arrest?

Angela Batt, Tuscaloosa, AL

I've viewed the whole video. He deserved it. There is nothing about our "right to free speech" that includes being loud and obnoxious. It is obvious, watching him ask his questions, that he wasn't looking for an intellectual answer from Kerry, he was just pushing his buttons and trying to get attention by asking ridiculous questions. Once the police directed him to leave, he has an obligation to cooperate and obey.

Russ, San Jose, CA

One of the scary things about this incident is the number of people who are reacting based on an edited, abbreviated video. The one posted here (originally from the Gainesville Sun) is about 2 minutes. The actual incident lasted more than 7 minutes--and at least some of the actions of police and others may be more understandable if people saw more of what happened (at one point WTVJ had a 6+ minute video--I don't know if it's still up in full length).

David O, Gainesville,

Meyer created the situation himself, by flailing around like a cat who's about to take a bath, when all the officers were trying to do was escort him out of the room.

Gu Sun-Nam, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

His hand was obviously free before the tazer was used on him. As a method to subdue this person, I do not see what was wrong with it. You have a constitutional right to free speech, but if he was innocent of what he would ahve eventually been accused of, and went willingly, he would not have the possible resisting charge. It would have been much easier to battle the police in court had he left willingly. Not saying her deserved it, but do not see what was wrong with it. You have to do what you have to do to get the situation under control.

RP, Minneapolis, mn

In my opinion Andrew Meyer asked some pertinent questions and I'm sure many of us would have wanted to hear John Kerry's response.The young man has some hutzpah and some intelligence and should not be minimised as a prankster and attention seeker.May of the students appeared meek and sheep like as the incident unfolded.Times are changing for the worse and people need to realise that confronting the negative forces in this society is going to require real sacrifice.

Michael Allen, Charlottesville, Va

"All that tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
-Thomas Jefferson

Nick, New York City, NY

Not so sure that you all are applying the principle of free speech correctly. First..the police were absolutely out of control. Period.
But, with respect to free speech, apparently there were rules about time limits for each student. Furthermore, it was an opportunity to ask questions..not to give a seperate lecture. My thinking is that, at a certain point, Mr. Meyer in fact, violated the other students' ability to exercise their freedoms. Because Mr. Meyers refused to give up the microphone, he effectively silenced the rest of the audience.
The organizers could have done a better job enforcing the rights of others, but when Mr. meyers refused to grant others the opportunity to speak....he was the the actual offender.

william simonns, darien, ct

An exceptionally sad and disgraceful example of incorrectly trained police. Lawful protests by this student, however misguided should have been managed in an entirely different manner.

It is a very poor inditement of US law enforcement.

nick, victoria, Canada

Thank God most of you are on Mr. Meyers' side. I would like
all of you to go to the Common Ground website and see
Naomi Kleins' article regarding this incident. It will give you chills. I, for one, am prepared to stand up for free speech.
If a similar incident happens near me, and it probably will since I am an active member of Code Pink, I hope I have the bravery to speak out and risk or get tasered myself. We must not allow fear to silence our voices--the future of our children and ourselves is at risk!

Pamela Bennett, San Francisco, Ca, USA

I completely agree Mike.

This kid may have been a heckler, but he does have a right to say what was on his mind.

The moment we let one incident by where the government tells us to shut up, we better not look surprised when we're not allowed to talk at all.

Travis, Chandler, AZ

The guy broke in line, did not adhere to a time limit, did not comply to the rule of one question, and refused to comply with the police when they finally stepped in. This was not a case of free speech being trod on, but a case of a jerk manipulating the press. Interestingly you guys seem to have been manipulated too, as your article states the microphone was turned off because the "organizers were unhappy with his line of questioning", rather than the facts, which were all of the above offenses mentioned which affected the other students and their ability to have an orderly meeting where everyone is heard.

john irwin, waretown, nj usa

There are two issues. Was Meyer's right of free speech violated and Did the police use unlawful force? Free speech is a fine line where the courts will need to determine whether such First Amendment Rights were infringed upon. As for the use of force, the police properly responded when they were escorting Meyers out of the auditorium. He refused to comply with the lawful orders of police and physically resisted. Instead of utilzing striking techniques, police lawfully utilized the taser which is a nonlethal weapon. If police utilized the other method of force, it would have been more likely for members of the parties to be injured.

As for members of society who believe that the police acted unlawfully, why not do away with police entirely and take care of matters personally when you or or family members are victims of crime... then see how fast you complain about how much you need police. You cannot have it both ways.

Robert, Jacksonville,

Bellman - SEE what education will do for you? Can you name a country that you would be PROUD to live in? Of course, AFTER, studying their Constitution.

magid, Houston, TX

He got his 15 minutes of fame and a taser to go with it. Game over man.

djSpawn, Lake Hopatcong, NJ

I can't beleive these cops were not arrested. What about freedom of speech don't they understand?

Steven S, Memphis, Tennesse

John Kerry showed HIS character as a man when he DID'T step off the stage and stand up for the Constitution by stopping this episode!

Don, Ocoee, Tennessee,

Welcome to 1984. This country is no longer free, the only way to become truly free in todays state of martial law is to drop out of society and become self sufficient.

Steven Sams, Houghton, MI,

The question may not be was exorbitant brutalty used, but was police intervntion necssary? This student merely asked a cutting question, and was arrested for it, that worries me. the officers seemed to be sending out a public message, stick to convention or suffer. Free country?

dan c , notts,

Who cares if it's a stunt or not? The police officers involved weren't part of it, and therefore showed their true colors. They used excessive force, and that's the real issue. No one in this country should be afraid of having bodily harm inflicted upon them for passionately demanding answers from their representatives- stunt or not.

Neamhni, Portland, Oregon

Andrew Meyer got the attention he was looking for and in so doing exposed a growing issue in American culture, the fear of free speech. Clearly Andrew Meyer's behavior should have been handled without violence. He was speeking to John Kerry and John Kerry wanted to answer his question, so why not let discourse happen?

I hope the police are fired and sued for everything they have for the lack of judgement they exercised.

John Donaldson, Tallahassee, Fl

I think Andrew Meyer got everything he deserved from the police officers. It seemed to me that he planned to disrupt the meeting before he even got there.

He didn't follow the one-question rule, he was loud and disrespectful, and he was obviously provoking the officers. Resisting arrest is a crime.

M Hand, Salt Lake City, USA/Utah

I believe mister Meyer was innocent and simply utilizing his freedom of speech. If this case gets passed against him that will open the doors for more infringements on our rights.

Eric, Syracuse, NY

If the student said :One officer told the Associated Press that Mr Meyer asked, “Are you taping this? Do you have this? You ready?” before beginning his questions.

Well the police knew they were being watched and did not care. I feel that alot of Police officers throughout the nation misuse their authority and don' care. This is a prime example.

What does it matter if the student wanted to tape the debate he was going to have with Kerry. Believe it or not this is suppose to be a free country.

The problem here is the police. Like Mr Kerry said. He could have handled it himself. He did not need the police to make a circus out it.

Donna, Newark, CA

Who does Andrew Meyer think he is? Gee, he read a book by the number one investigative journalist in the world and now he has it all figured out. Kerry threw the last presidential election because he belongs to the Skull and Bones Society and doesn't support impeaching Bush. Got it . Perhaps Meyer should consider running for the New Orleans District Attorney's office. He would be a good follow up to Jim Garrison. Better yet, he could join the cast of the TV show Jackass. He certainly is one.

Ray Hicks, Denver, USA / Colorado

It does not matter if it was planned or not, can you say "Kent State"??????
Imagine what the police would have done if it had been 2000 people instead of one. Then tazers would not have been feasible, so then should they use guns?
Don't get me wrong, I am in favor of law and order, but this is a little out of hand...

John, no,

In my view, the intent of Mr. Meyer is not the issue. If Mr. Meyer chose to engage in freedom of speech as a satire, prank or whatever, the actions by the police were totally unacceptable and transcended the bounds of the law. The response that Mr. Meyer received his just due speaks volume concerning the right of freedom of speech in this country. I was appalled at the looks on the students faces.The action left a very bad taste in my mouth.

Wanda Abioto, Memphis, TN

Andrew Meyer's website is actually www.theandrewmeyer.com.

James Miller, Atlanta, GA

arrest, bring to court, convict, punish. no cop should be judge and jury.

Officers have a right to protect themselves, but there were four of them, the guy was hand cuffed!!!

Excessive unwarranted force!

Glen Koedding, Punta Gorda, FL

Whether or not this was intended to be an attention getter, the reaction of the police was absurd.
Taping himself for internet fame isn't violent or unexpected for a college student. Tasering and keeping Mr. Meyer in jail overnight for his actions was exactly how you would expect untrained and unprofessional officials to act.

Terri, Minden, NV

This incident was deprived of Andrew Meyers'
1st amendment right: Freedom of speech
5th amendment right: Deprived of liberty
8th amendment right: The use of a Taser is cruel punishment

William, Bloomfield, New Jersey

I'm truely upset that this happened. And yeah, maybe Mr Meyer was tapping the incident but not for the out come he recieved.

Rynn, Santa Barbara, California

Whether this student "set-up" the incident is irrelevant. This is an abuse of power by these police officers who massively outnumbered someone who was unarmed, un-threatening and only mildly struggling (for the cameras?). He was not lashig out, throwing punches or kicking.
Perhaps these thugs should be working for Blackwater in Iraq!

Roger Bingham, Lauzun, France

So, if freedom of speech is out - what's left for the USA to stand for?

tsmos, Mt. Shasta,

The student had every right under the United States and Florida Constitutions, to exercise his right to Freedom of Speech without fear of being shot with a tazer device for either his views or the manner or methodology with which he had expressed them. I understand that Sen Kerry had been in the process of answering the man’s question when the campus police dragged him away to be tazed.
(The question was if Kerry was a member of the same Skull & Bones group at Yale that President Bush had belonged to)
Nowhere in Mr Kerry's statement is there any reference to a request by him to remove the individual from the room. All we see on the video is the police unilaterally restricting Mr Meyer's free speech rights and Mr Meyer's subsequent struggle to defend those rights and audible questioning of the police "what did I do?". The tazing should never have taken place---and the initial police intervention is highly questionable.

Charles Bryan Baron, Cedarhurst New York, USA

I don't think Meyer handed the camera to the fellow audience member to record a confrontation with police, but merely to record his questions for Kerry. What is disturbing about this unnecessary use of force over someone simply wanting to talk, and in a political forum of all places, is the blame the victim approach taken by so many Americans and members of the press. Prankster or not, the student didn't deserve to be Tasered. When police thuggery is widely excused, what hope is there for a free society?

Felicity, Ex-pat, USA

If it is indeed a fact that Mr Meyer was doing this a a stunt it is entirely irrelevant. THe man was excercising his freedom of speech and that MUST be tolerated. I may not like the message but I suppport his absolute right to say it. To permit the bullying tactices of officials is a crime of denying civil rights. To resist as the young man did is an act of patriotism.

Jim, Oak Park, USA/Illinois

Perhaps this was more about attention seeking than political expression, but that's really irrelevant. Those that argue that the use of a taser is acceptable when someone is resisting arrest are missing the point too.

Taser guns are unsafe and have killed people. Police have been said to use tasers in all kinds of situations where they would have never reached for a gun. Which means, the claim that tasers are non-lethal has police tasering people like gang busters.

Now the taser market wants to introduce tasers for individuals. Can you imagine?

I want to move to Canada.

Justin, Austin,

Big deal, so he asked if someone was taping it... if you were about to ask some fairly big questions of a state senator or supposedly won the election for president - you'd want your friend to tape it too! That doesn't mean he expected to get arrested or shocked with electricity!

Nikki, Chicago, IL

This is a blatant case of a revolutionary opportunist taking advantage of the corrupt stage set by our totalitarian government. Especially with the current legalities of the Patriot Act and Homeland Security, the interruption made by this young man involving some form of an unmentionable posit of anti- "New World Order" rhetoric, was of course treated as a terrorist threat. Anything involving the possible loss of control by the current ruling order, or the debasing of our so-called Democracy, has become punishable by cruel and unusual means. This incident simply illustrates the point: the use of a taser after hundcuff are secured; the unlawful arrest for executing freedom of speech; malicious prosecution involving charges of "DISTURBING THE PEACE". The two things I find most DISTURBING to THE current and recent PEACE: First, political abuse of power in pursuit of money and dominion; Secondly, the lack of citizens willing to combine in the revolutionary spirit that made the U.S.A.

Thomas Burr, Mount Vernon, Ohio

The student had every right under the United States and Florida Constitutions, to exercise his right to Freedom of Speech without fear of being shot with a tazer device for either his views or the manner or methodology with which he had expressed them. I understand that Sen Kerry had been in the process of answering the man’s question when the campus police dragged him away to be tazed.

(The question was if Kerry was a member of the same Skull & Bones group at Yale that President Bush had belonged to)

Nowhere in Mr Kerry's statement is there any reference to a request by him to remove the individual from the room. All we see on the video is the police unilaterally restricting Mr Meyer's free speech rights and Mr Meyer's subsequent struggle to defend those rights and audible questioning of the police "what did I do?". The tazing should never have taken place---and the initial police intervention is highly questionable.

Charles Bryan Baron, Cedarhurst New York, USA

Andrew Meyer has more courage than I've seen in a very long time. Those rent-a-cops were way out of line. Arresting a person for asking a question is very chilling.

Kilian James Garvey, PhD, Portland, Maine

I would imagine Mr Meyer was looking forward to capture the senator’s response on his camera. The heavy handed tactics applied by the police is regrettable.

Asif, Edinburgh, Scotland

MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. ONE BEING LOUD AND MOUTHY ISN'T A CRIME THE LAST I HEARD,..BUT THE STUDENT DEFINTELY WAS RIDING A EGO TRIP, I THINK WE HAVE BETTER THINGS TO FOCUS ON DON'T YOU?

CHANGE THE CHANNEL ALREADY!

LAURA, AUSTIN, TX

I think it's a shame that it finally took one kid to go completely off the wall to generate this type of response to an apathetic youth and media. The reality is that Andrew, despite how he said what he said, was right. Here in America in my first ever Civil class we were taught about freedom of the press and freedom of speech. Really? Does this look like freedom to you. Our country has a problem. Bush has instilled fear in the hearts and minds of our population and fear is a far worse battle to face than any terrorist or enemy or country. Awesome. We allowed Bush to steal a country's ground and core principles. On behalf of all Americans who voted for Bush and for the war, I hope you are all very, very proud of yourselves.

Jaclyn, New York, NY, USA

If this can happen on US soil, in presence of a former US presidential candidate, I can only imagine what happened in Abu-Ghraib.

Where is free-speech?

Echis, Fremont, CA

If he did "jump queue", or cut in line, that's one thing. If he didn't and this WAS his turn, he didn't exactly break any rules and didn't really act out in vulgarity. With that said, it doesn't matter if he filmed it. Plus, his filming it doesn't put any weight on the theory that he had expected this to happen. He obviously wanted to ask edgy questions and I don't blame him for wanting to film it. He was entirely within his rights!

Patrick Nelson, Philadelphia, PA

So what that he wanted it taped? He is a JOURNALISM student and probably wanted his challenging questions to get Mr. Kerry on the record with his answers.

Clayton, Allen, TX

I feel that the student did nothing wrong. What happened to freedom of speech. It is evident that he put up a "tustle", but, that incident would never have occured if the officers had unjustly grabbed him for asking a smart mouth question. The Police are at full fault here. Granted, Student do loose there Bill of RIghts when on a school campus, the student did nothing to cross the line.

Eric DeVries, Gainsville , FL

When does the torture begin here for those who dare to speak?

Stephen Tvedten, Marne, USA/ Michigan

Why is no one even the slightest bit interested in getting the answers to the important questions Andrew Meyer posed to John Kerry? No one mentions the book, Armed Madhouse by Greg Palast. The reason he had to resort to this sort of questioning is because our mainstream press does not ask these questions (yes they ask them, but they do not press to get the answers).

John, Costa Mesa, CA

This video is painful to watch. The police are so out of line. It doesn't matter if he has a history of jokes, if he was asking if it was taped. The police clearly over reacted.

Even sadder is that none stepped up to at least slow the police. The police were essentially torturing him.

Chad Calkins, Lakewood, CO

Why should we disregard the violent reaction of campus police simply because Meyer was attempting to create a scene? So, he was prepared to document any reaction he may elicit; this does not mean that it's okay to implement unrestrained, over-the-top tactics to quell his free speech.

And if anyone thinks Meyer was over-reacting to the pain of the Taser shock, they should try it themselves to see if they, too, might say, "Ow, Owwww..."

Jonah Stein, Memphis, TN

He could have been restrained and dumped wihout using taser. That's usually rhe procedure-- and then ,maybe, arrested.

saul bachner, wilmington, n.c.

Don’t Tase me, bro!”

When did an American Senator's time become so precious that he doesn't have to be "subjected" to 2 minutes of asinine comments? John Kerry works for us, we are his boss. The police work for us, they are not John Kerry's call-screeners. I didn't agree with this student's approach and if he wants to make a fool out of himself, he could have kept it to one foolish point.

That doesn't make the police's action right. I am ten times ashamed for the spectators who watched this debacle slack-jawed and motionless like they were watching the you-tube video online. Shame on citizens who idly watch this kind of abuse and not recognize it. Shame on all of them including John Kerry who didn't relieve the police of their duties. And finally shame on anyone who doesn't have the courage to question authority or believe that another American has the right to speak freely in an open forum.

I am ashamed to live in this America and I weep for the US Constitution.

Mike Bellman, Columbia, Missouri, USA