Freedom of Speech?  Not at the University of Florida.

 

September 22, 2007 – Although disturbing, and even if you have already seen it, please watch this video University of Florida student, 21 year-old Andrew Meyer. He was attending an on-campus forum at which Senator John Kerry was speaking. Following Kerry’s speech, Meyer spent 90 seconds asking a few pertinent questions – including a pointed one regarding why Kerry did not contest the 2004 presidential election results.

 

Meyer derived some of his queries from investigative reporter Greg Palast’s book, Armed Madhouse.  He was holding the book in his hands during the question and answer segment. When Meyer asked Senator Kerry if he was a member of Skull and Bones, the guards moved to forcefully remove Meyer from the auditorium.  Here's another view of Meyer being denied free speech and subjected to police state tactics.

 

This event is a tragic testimony to the dissolution of our Constitution, our freedom of speech and the sheep like acceptance of strong-armed tactics. From what I could discern, Meyer was removed for merely asking a question. As the officers reached to remove him, he jumped back from the officers, thus triggering the resisting arrest with violence charge. Equally disturbing is the apathy of the college students who sit, nervously smiling while Meyer is wrestled to the floor in their midst. Additionally, Kerry attempted to answer a question by dodging the question while Meyer was screaming for help, held down by at least four authorities, with a nonchalance that was appalling.

 

How could Senator Kerry not call out for these people to take their hands off a young man who had done nothing but exercise his freedom of speech? How could school officials not intervene? This is a prime example of militaristic terror tactics being utilized by security personnel across this once great nation. 

 

To the University of Florida’s credit, President Bernie Machen initiated an independent and formal investigation placing two of the officers including Ms. Mallo, on paid administrative leave. President Machen addressed his institution's response in more detail in this press conference held Tuesday, September 18, 2007. He promises a through investigation from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and shared his concern about the loss of "civil discourse," which has been a tenet of a university setting.

 

A few months ago, during a Rudy Giuliani campaign stop, reporter Matt Lepacek, a reporter for Infowars.com was arrested for asking Mr. Giuliani a question about 9/11.

 

Will tasers become the weapon of choice in the halls of Congress as constituents make impassioned inquiries to discern truth? Or will the "non-lethal", lethal high-energy weapons that have been kicking around the last few years be the weapons of choice for crowd control? I pray not, but it appears that they already are employed as prods instead of an alternative to a firearm.  The law should read that if use of a firearm would not have been permissible, than neither would the use of a taser. 

 

Surely, the apathy will soon end. And we will wrestle our nation back from the fear and propaganda that has mesmerized the masses.  We simply must muster the will to fight back and not be victims of police state tactics and oppression.