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With his lazily coifed hair and khaki shorts, Andrew Meyer looks like every other guy you would expect to see on a college campus. As of last Monday, however, Meyer has managed to distinguish himself among thousands of other khakied college guys by becoming “That Guy Who Got Tasered At The John Kerry Rally.”
Here are the basics for the select few who haven’t seen it on YouTube or aren’t sporting a “Don’t Tase Me, Bro!” T-shirt. On Monday, Sept. 17, 21-year-old University of Florida telecommunications major Meyer attended a Kerry rally on campus in Gainesville, Fla. Meyer approached the microphone after Kerry stated he wouldn’t accept any more questions but then agreed to listen to Meyer.
Meyer animatedly began asking about the 2004 election and why Kerry wasn’t trying to impeach Bush. At that moment, the microphone was cut off and police began to escort Meyer out of the room. Meyer resisted the officers and ran back to the microphone, only to be thrown to the floor by six officers shortly thereafter.
Meyer continued to resist and the officers informed Meyer that if he refused to stop screaming for help, he would be Tasered. Meyer shouted, “Don’t Tase me, bro!” in vain, and was Tasered. Meyers is being charged with resisting arrest with violence and disturbing the peace. He will receive a trial date in the near future.
Two University of Florida police officers are on leave due to their questionable conduct, and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement is beginning its own investigation.
Thanks to coverage from countless media outlets, over 400,000 YouTube hits and a dedicated University of Florida posse who are protesting the police force on Meyer’s behalf, the event has raised questions of police brutality and the limits of free speech.
If you look at any newspaper headline from the past week, chances are they will say something along the lines of “UF Student Tasered for Speaking at Kerry Rally.” Without reading the article or watching the video, the headline is pretty aggravating, right?
While browsing through articles and blogs of reporters and students alike, I began to realize that the headlines do not accurately describe the situation and are quick to summarize it. In my opinion there are two questions raised by the situation that are not necessarily related. Kerry told the police to let Meyer speak. Meyer spoke and was cut off when he addressed controversial topics – the questionable 2004 election and impeachment. The first question, therefore, is: Why was Meyer cut off when Kerry was willing to listen?
Some have argued that Meyer’s questions were not relevant and, therefore, not necessary. If Kerry had felt that Meyer’s comments were in fact unnecessary, shouldn’t that have been left to Kerry’s discretion?
The second question concerns the use of the Taser. Anyone who has watched the video could attest to the fact that Meyer did resist the police. Although Meyer did continue flailing and shouting, he was, at that point, held down by six different officers. The second question addresses the proper and improper usage of Tasers. With six officers on Meyer, wouldn’t one assume that the situation was under control and there was really no need for a Taser?
I feel that an inaccurate correlation has been drawn between the two events, suggesting that Meyer was Tasered because of his statements. Meyer was Tasered because he resisted police force; whether or not he warranted a zap is subjective and up for discussion. Whether or not Meyer’s microphone should have been cut is also subjective. Personally, I think I’ll trade in my “Don’t Tase Me, Bro!” shirt for one that says, “Don’t Short Out My Mic, Bro!”
Lynnsay Maynard is a first-year political science major.
