Comment A personal perspective (Score 1) 1819
I feel Mr. Meyer discredited himself by accusatorily asking his questions. Despite the uncharismatic delivery, the questions asked were relevant and important, and the context he gave helped clarify the question.
I feel the police should have spent a bit more time using their mouths (and minds), before resorting to using their hands (and taser). While Mr. Meyer was not physically or verbally threatening anyone, or trying to leave (or "evade arrest" if you are the prosecution), the police had no need to escalate to physical force.
I feel that unless doing so immediately interferes with the officer's duty, an officer should be legally required to say "You are under arrest" (or "You are being Terry stopped and frisked"). At the very least, they should be required to answer "Am I under arrest?" when the question is asked. However, I am not aware of any such legal requirement, but such a law could be hidden in any of Constitutional, Federal, State, County, and City legal domains.
I feel the charge of "disrupting a public event" is unreasonable. What Mr. Meyer may be not widely known, and how he said it unpersuasive, but they *were* important questions given with context, which Kerry acknowledged and answered. That's protected (political) speech, at a political event, on a public University campus. If our government does not tolerate (important yet uncharismaticly delivered) political questions there, then it is no longer "our" government. I feel the police overreacted, and I expect the police and their superiors should announce official apologies. The police involved should potentially facing criminal and civil charges. (FYI: "inciting a riot" is not the official charge, despite what the officer said.)
I feel the police should have spent a bit more time using their mouths (and minds), before resorting to using their hands (and taser). While Mr. Meyer was not physically or verbally threatening anyone, or trying to leave (or "evade arrest" if you are the prosecution), the police had no need to escalate to physical force.
I feel that unless doing so immediately interferes with the officer's duty, an officer should be legally required to say "You are under arrest" (or "You are being Terry stopped and frisked"). At the very least, they should be required to answer "Am I under arrest?" when the question is asked. However, I am not aware of any such legal requirement, but such a law could be hidden in any of Constitutional, Federal, State, County, and City legal domains.
I feel the charge of "disrupting a public event" is unreasonable. What Mr. Meyer may be not widely known, and how he said it unpersuasive, but they *were* important questions given with context, which Kerry acknowledged and answered. That's protected (political) speech, at a political event, on a public University campus. If our government does not tolerate (important yet uncharismaticly delivered) political questions there, then it is no longer "our" government. I feel the police overreacted, and I expect the police and their superiors should announce official apologies. The police involved should potentially facing criminal and civil charges. (FYI: "inciting a riot" is not the official charge, despite what the officer said.)
