UF Student Tasering: What Voltaire, Niemöller , And Obnoxious Kids Share With Our Founding Fathers [View All]

[lateo]

http://www.functionalisminaction.com/2007/09/niemller-test-uf-student-tasering-meets.html

A very poignant response to this item was made by one "Kristina" in the comments section of that blog, which definitely and powerfully needs to be heard elsewhere: "Saying that he was a prankster so he deserved to get tasered is like saying that a woman who has had several sexual partners deserved to get raped." I'm going to let that stand on its own.

However, there is something which is somewhat under-reported as of just yet: what were the charges the police laid upon the young man? Turns out -- according to a longer-length youtube video which showed his being placed in handcuffs (If you haven't seen it already, google it; you'll find it quickly enough), that he was arrested for inciting a riot. And this, specifically, means that he was falsely arrested. Why? Well, take a lawyer's opinion on the matter. What is are the legal qualifications to be considered "inciting a riot"? Inciting a riot applies to a person who organizes, encourages, or participates in a riot. It can apply to one who urges or instigates others to riot. It does not apply to someone who merely advocates ideas or expresses beliefs, if those ideas and beliefs do not involve advocating violence. Nowhere, notice, did the young man request or intimate that others should get up out of their seats, nor was there a reaction greater than laughter or applause from the audience. Hence, no riot nor incitation therein... that is, until the police themselves acted. Should, then, the police be charged with inciting a riot? Sadly, this will never happen.

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Read the rest it is very interesting.