Watch the infamous video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqAVvlyVbag
Nice job with the excessive force, eh? There's no question his general disposition was "douchey" - nothing specific about him, just came off as a tool. Newspaper accounts say that the Q&A was over, but him and another student insisted on having a chance to ask their question(s) and they were allowed to (prior to the cameras starting).
Once he began to ask his question, they asked him to "wrap it up" twice. He said "I have two more questions", then he asked his two additional questions. When he was done, they then turned off his mic and he replied abruptly "thanks for turning my mic off", Kerry started to say something and then the officer grabbed him.
For the life of me, I cannot understand what made her to grab a student, who was not being violent or threatening in any way shape or form. He was ready to listen, they didn't even give him 5 seconds to let John Kerry start talking. The mic was cut off, and seconds later they grabbed him. WHY?!
This is an institution of higher learning, where he was at an educational forum. Even if he was being verbally disruptive, his questions were on topic and mostly civil. There was no need for the police to intervene. And if they were to intervene, why would your first step be putting your hands on him? If they had waited 15 seconds, this entire incident may have been avoided. And finally, John Kerry has been in politics for 37 years, he can handle hecklers without force.
The cops over reacted first, followed by Andrew's over reaction, followed by 6 or 7 cops restraining him and then tasering him -- the biggest over reaction of the three.
Just because it seems like these people have it coming, doesn't mean the police should be able to torture a person until they submit -- especially when they clearly have the upper hand. Cops have a shit job, and I sympathize, but when you put on the badge, you're held to a higher standard. Those cops who are unwilling to try to meet those standards should find another type of work.
