Wow!!! This is the first I've seen or heard about this, and all I can say is wow!! I think this was waaaaaay too much excessive force used. He told the cops he would walk out if they would just let him go. I see no reason whatsoever to have used a Taser on him.
This brings up all kinds of Constitutional issues for me, with the main one being freedom of speech. Was this some kind of a closed meeting or something, or was this a public event? How was the student out of line by asking the questions he was asking? Are we living in such a policed state that you can now be tased for expressing your own opinion or asking questions? This is very disturbing to me!!
I've read up on some background. Apparently the Q&A session was over, and the student forced his way to the front because he didn't get a chance to ask his question. Kerry said to let him ask his question. Then someone determined that he was badgering Kerry and turned off the mic. This guy also has a website where he does pranks and films them, and there's a debate on whether or not he did this as another stunt. Also, one of the videos is from his own camera.
When they turned the mic off, Kerry again said that it was okay and he'd answer his question, but police started escorting him off. I think the police were wrong to do that, at that point they should've turned the mic off and let Kerry answer the question (which if you listen, he attempts to do during the struggle) without touching the student.
But, had the student cooperated, I suspect he would've been let go at the station. Since he was struggling and it was taking multiple officers to restrain him and they still couldn't get the cuffs on, I can understand why the officer gave him a jolt. It couldn't have been much of one, because all it did was make him say ow (and get the other handcuff on). I think at that point the student was trying to make it a publicity stunt.
I saw this on the news this morning and I thought the officers were way out of line. Now that I've seen the whole thing, it looks to me that this kid was trying to get a reaction. I feel that way because of the aggressive nature of the way he was asking the questions. Actually, he was just ranting and not asking his question when the first lady officer told him to get to his question. She told him to get to his question and he elevated his aggressiveness and continued ranting.
They gave him more time and he still didn't get to his question, so they told him he was done. He resisted. Sure, after they had control of him on the floor he THEN said he was willing to walk out but before that, they were trying to lead him out by the arm and he was resisting. They met his resistance with force. I do agree it was more than necessary, but I think he was trying to get a reaction and they gave him what he was looking for.
I don't think the taser was necessary, but he clearly continued to resist. Even though he was saying "I'll walk out", he was still trying to pull away from them.
I think they used more force then necessary, but I think he was trying to get a reaction.
Yeah, I purposely posted the longer one. There were a lot of cameras there, and you can get a few more veiwpoints with a YouTube search. But by not showing the whole thing, it gives a skewed perspective.
