Merely because the University Facility is owned and operated by a quasi-governmental agency does not make it a public place.

The custodians of the venue and of the event have a responsibility to the participants, attendees and guests to maintain safety and order; persons in charge of the event have every right to dictate who uses their microphone, who remains in there facility and who can talk.  

Had this been in a public town square, the issue may have been different.

Regardless, the officers responded to a disruptive, aggrandizing stunt-puller, and appropriately reacted to HIS continuing escalation of the situation.

The police escalation of force was DIRECTLY proportional to the amount of resistance the subject was projecting.

Regardless of the subjects opinion of himself or his situation, there is little doubt that the police acted appropriatly and with great reserve.  The use of the TASER is also a reaction to the subjects ACTIONS and CHOICES.

The University administration is wise to investigate, but I fear that they will succumb to a knee-jerk reaction to the media opinion, rather than make a deliberate judgement on all of the facts.

My support and sympathy to the officers who, through little choice of their own, reacted appropriately, but are now subject to a life-altering version of Monday Morning Quaterbacking.

---Tom from Maine

"An illegal arrest is an assault and battery. The person so attempted to be restrained of his liberty has the same right to use force in defending himself as he would in repelling any other assault and battery." (State v. Robinson, 145 ME. 77, 72 ATL. 260).

"Each person has the right to resist an unlawful arrest. In such a case, the person attempting the arrest stands in the position of a wrongdoer and may be resisted by the use of force, as in self- defense." (State v. Mobley, 240 N.C. 476, 83 S.E. 2d 100).

The rationale for Tasers is that they are non-lethal and can help the police subdue dangerous criminials.  The reality is that Tasers have expanded the use of force and now it's not just drug dealers, but 21 year olds making political protest.
Regardless of the kids intentions, the cops went way too far. Events like this not only have a chilling effect, but each time they happen it further expands the definition of "acceptable force".  
Unfortunately, Americans are apparently okay with college kids getting tasered, regardless of the fact that tasers have killed people.  
Why are we treating our citizens like animals and poking them with cattle prods?  How has it come to this, that a once proud culture has abandoned its values and turned to violence at every opportunity?

I am sorry but I will let you guys debate the ethics of tasering and freespeech in fascist america today,, the catchphrase Don't Tase Me Bro is just so funny and comical I cant go to sleep without laughing so hard. I mean it really is so true in todays super anti terrorism and ultra police state. It's resurrects the hippies from the grave and speaks through the mouth of Andrew generation y Meyer. He really should be a advertising major because that one phrase is catchy, true, honest, and oh so perfect coming from an americans mouth.  Al Jazeera should have a great time bashing us with that youtube video of our democracy at work.

Tom from Maine, get 5,000 volts of electricity through your body for 7 seconds and then tell me about how this is proportionate needless to say humane.

It wasn't a taser, it was a stun gun. Tasers shoot small needles under your skin and you are then wired to the "gun" part and the officer can press a button and zap you from a distance.

Stun guns are the tools of Saturday night frat pranks all over the country. I've used one on my leg, and if you go onto youtube you can watch kids zapping each other and themselves.

Now, everyone can see 6 cops can have a heck of a time restraining a single man. At what point do you believe officers should be able to take things to the next level. One cop, one man in a scuffle lasting 5 minutes? There is either stun gun or a real gun if things aren't wrapped up quickly. Two cops? Three cops?

The point is that a cop shouldn't have to go home any night with a missing tooth simply because someone was being a jackass and got a free kick in over something like this. If a situtation arises such that a person can't be put into cuffs in 5 seconds, then the situation is NOT under control and it's time to go the next level.

Ask yourself this: what if the scuffle went on for 45 seconds (it was headed there without the stun gun), and at the end of that 45 seconds the kid grabbed a holstered gun and pulled the trigger and the bullet killed a person in the crowd.

What would you thoughts be today about the issue? "Why did the cops let this go on for so long?" "Why did the cops let this clearly deranged person on the stage?" Yes, I know, it would have been anyone's fault except Andrew Meyers.

Imagine: "Police responded today to critcism that they didn't act swiftly enough to restrain the main responsible for shooting UF student Karen Stevens with a  handgun wrestled away from one of the officers involved in the struggle. The man, apparantely agitated after delivering a 115 second profanity laced list of statements to ex-presidential candidate John Kerry was clearly agitated as he pushed his way to the front of the line to the microphone. The student had a history of seeking attention on the campus, though his friends didn't think it would come to this."

"I don't understand why the police let this go on so long" so student Jane Davis. "How can six trained police officers not get a 20 year old kid under control? There needs to be an investigation, because Karen was a warm and loving person that didn't deserve this"

Sorry folks. But if one or 100 cops are taking more than 5 seconds to get you into cuffs, then in their mind you are a threat that needs to be neutralized. Expect the situation to be "stepped up" shortly.

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 wans 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.

Legalize Freedom

For the supporters of the Police State you are trying to emulate.  For the supporters of Tienanmen Square and other actions of a Government which does not reflect the will of the people.  Here is something written by someone before your time who was able to think outside the box.

First they came for the Jews
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for the Communists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a Communist.
Then they came for the trade unionists
and I did not speak out
because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for me
and there was no one left
to speak out for me.
Pastor Martin Niemöller

Andrew would have spoken out for you.  Where were you?

well those sure are some lazy cops.  these public electrocutions by police were supposed to prevent public shootings by police. they don't. the police still shoot at will. they now also electrocute whenever convenient.  if they are faced with a knife or gun they shoot to kill.  when they are faced with (GASP) some work, they electrocute people.  lazy.lazy. lazy.

Goodbye Bill of Rights, Hello Police State 2007.

I am a student and I have a degree in criminal justice.  This student was wrongly treated and these officers are in a lot of trouble.  Why do you ask?  In all my training both hands on and voluntary, it is always practiced to warn the suspect that measures will be acted if the demands are not met.  I have watched and listened to the video many times and I did not once here from the officers "Please do not resist or I will taze you!"  You do not hear that once!  But you do hear John Kerry stating, "I will answer his questions" and you hear the student screaming, "Please don't taze me bro!"  These officers actions were very dumb and they should all be suspended.  They give a real bad name and show a bad example of cops today.  

This reminds me of the times when I went to speak in front of the Hillsborough County Commissiones during public comment there was always 4 County Sheriffs officers with there hands powering up their taser guns 10 feet away from me. I can not believe that they would be that fearful of a 150 pound 5'5" gay man.

America, where are you?
Where is "...this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people..." when having a public discussion with a Senator (paid by the "people") will grant you to be electrocuted by the police (also paid by the people!!!).
Any public official, Senator or policeman, should remember that they are in their position because of us, the people, and we not only have the right to publicly scrutinize them but it is our duty.
Like it or not, we are becoming numb, content as long as nobody bothers us in the day to day life, and in the process we are loosing our precious democracy.
You would expect this event in Cuba or China, not in the World's Beacon for Democracy.
Our Founding Fathers would slap each person that didn't react to what was going on in that auditorium if they could...

On my blog I do a detailed legal analysis under Florida law of the issue:
Should the UF police who attacked Andrew Meyer on Constitution Day be tried for Attempted Murder?

http://pleasedonttasemebro.blogspot.com/

Read the blog and vote.

As far as what he should have done? http://FlexYourRights.org has a great instructional video, BUSTED, you can find on YouTube. In my opinion, every citizen should be thoroughly trained by that video. Would make my work defending alleged criminals, like the officers or Mr. Meyers, a lot easier.

WOW, this started out bad but got better ... thanks AMERICANS !!!!

Thank you for all the useful information, as well.  jonahtrainer and boyd.

I don't even care if he was playing to the camera.   That doesn't equate to the rest of what was done to him.

ANY use of force against an unarmed person who is not threatening you should be cause for sanction/dismissal.
Don't worry, like Mark Ferguson states they can get a job with the Hillsborogh COunty Sheriff's Office.
Also .... if you search for Bercaw Tampa FL you see that this officer in Tampa FL keeps ONE HAND ON HIS TASER AND ONE HAND ON HIS GUN during a voluntary conversation, requested by himself for NO REASON while questioning a very slight juvenile.
He attempted to incite said juvenile to anger by commenting on his family and lifestyle and by looking him up and down.  I wonder which the steroid'ed bercaw would have chosen??? Gun or TASER.
He can go to work for the UPD and they can come here and we can move on our merry way to the police state.
AND, this is why a society stays ARMED. The government is to fear the people not the reverse.
Thanks also dcdave, you always reaffirm my belief in the decency of people in Tampa because it is sorely in need of same most days.

http://tampasbackdoor.blogspot.com/2007/04/what-i-did-tonight.html

Actually, it won't show up on a search but here is what JUST ONE officer of the TPD did a few months ago.  There's lots and lots more ... they are involved in the active stalking of Tampa citizens who own lucrative properties that the city wants.

I think putting blame on the police is complete bull crap!!!!!That young man knew he was acting up and out of line. The police had every right to use the force they needed to control him. I dont pity that student in any way or form.

The constitution does not say "freedom of speech-but only until your time is up." Something is not quite right here. So the young man was not following the rules and went over his time-is this really justification for an arrest?  Would you all not have "resisted" if you were being manhandled just because you were loud and long?So he is grandstanding-so do most of our politicians-I don't see any of them being arrested.

<a href="http://alivinghominid.blogspot.com/2007/09/andrew-meyer.html "> We need more social disruption. We need more flailing about. We need more Andrew Meyers right now. Why? Read this</a>

Andrew was arrested because of the content of the questions he asked John Kerry. There was no reason to arrest him in the beginning. I watched all of the videos including the ones that show the event before Andrew was called on to speak. He had the floor and he asked the "wrong" question. Anyone can argue that he resisted arrest after that but no one is upset that they attempted to silience this young man and deny him freedom of speech. Our governmnent is completely corrupt. You disagree? - Watch the video "Dark Secrets Inside the Bohemian Grove." Search for the video where Alex Jones gets arrested for asking President Bush a question when he was the governor of Texas.