(Should we also give them Jack Boots I wonder?) I bet they all could goose-step with the best of those who like to curtail individual freedoms.
I would like to say that even if Andrew Meyer happened to be playing a prank, even if he spoke too long and went over his allotted time, even if he happened to ask infuriatingly stupid questions, physically removing him as the Police did is reprehensible. The thing is, I do not believe that the manner in which the police behaved is a rarity. In fact, when one watches the television show “Cops”, one regularly sees these jack-asses all puffed up with themselves, acting as macho as they can, (including the women), all acting like adrenaline junkies, itching for a “suspect” to take down.
There is such a thing as the Constitution here in the United States. At least there used to be. I am sure that it has been eroded beyond any sort of recognizability in the last sixty years, but the principles in its amendments are still readily available to read:
1. The first amendment of the United States Constitution states:
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Were the Police violating the 1st amendment rights of Andrew Meyer? Did he say something some people just didn’t want heard? I don’t personally think so. What I think happened is that as mentioned above, some thugs wearing uniforms took removing him after his allotted time a little too seriously and abused the power they were given.
But what about Amendment 4 to the U.S. Constitution?
“A seizure is not constituted by merely approaching the individual on the street or in another public place, and asking him if he is willing to answer some questions, or by asking him questions if he seems willing to listen, or by offering in evidence in a criminal prosecution his voluntary answers to such questions. The person approached, however, does not have to answer any questions under these circumstances; he can simply walk away.[15] He may not be detained even momentarily without reasonable, objective grounds for doing so; and his refusal to listen or answer does not, without more, furnish those grounds.[16]
A person is seized within the meaning of the Fourth Amendment only when by means of physical force or show of authority his freedom of movement is restrained, and in the circumstances surrounding the incident; a reasonable person would believe that he was not free to leave.[17] If the police are questioning someone, and they remain free to disregard the questions and walk away, there has been no intrusion upon the person's liberty or privacy, and for Fourth Amendment purposes--there has been no seizure.[17]”
I would say that the Police definitely seized Andrew Meyer, without good cause.
I also think the University itself should be taken to task for even thinking that the Police were in any way doing their jobs.
To sum up, the cops have too much power. There needs to be some major overhauls of the Executive Branch of government from the top on down. Law enforcement needs good, decent, CLEAR minded individuals who CARE about the American people. They should remember the whole “To PROTECT and SERVE” part of their job description.
These cops that tasered Andrew Meyer were doing neither.
Watch these Nazi Pigs arrest Andrew Meyer HERE:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bVa6jn4rpE
