2008 Woodie Awards
Student Tased: violation of human rights or resisting arrest?
A Piece of Py
Sam Hollingsworth
Issue date: 9/21/07 Section: Opinion
Originally published: 9/20/07 at 10:26 PM EST
Last update: 9/20/07 at 10:25 PM EST
- < prev Page 2 of 2
Meyer was then handcuffed and arrested, taken to the local police station and actually spent the night behind bars before being released without bail.
As a journalist and someone who has had my own fair share of run-ins with the law, I know there are certain things you can and can't do.
Speaking your mind, no matter how different from the norm, is totally and completely legal and is known as the First Amendment, "Freedom of Speech."
As riled up as Meyer was, he was totally innocent for asking a question and the cops truly had no right to escort him or shut off his mic. When they were instructed to do so, however, they were handling their duties as police officers.
Once the police were involved, resisting an officer is illegal and the thin line between exercising civil rights and breaking the law is quickly crossed.
I support Meyer's argument and do believe that the connection between Bush and Kerry is somewhat of a conspiracy, but you must act like a civil human being if you expect to be heard as one. You can't tell police officers to get off of you and keep squirming away from them when they are ordered to escort you out of a public place.
Even so, two police officers have been placed on leave for their actions against Meyer and, just as I predicted, Meyer was charged with resisting an officer. Meyer was also charged with disturbing the peace, and that's nothing short of hogwash.
I'll admit, I know very little about criminal justice, aside from my personal track record, but I don't believe Meyer was disturbing the peace any more than he was exercising his right of the First Amendment.
As a journalist and someone who has had my own fair share of run-ins with the law, I know there are certain things you can and can't do.
Speaking your mind, no matter how different from the norm, is totally and completely legal and is known as the First Amendment, "Freedom of Speech."
As riled up as Meyer was, he was totally innocent for asking a question and the cops truly had no right to escort him or shut off his mic. When they were instructed to do so, however, they were handling their duties as police officers.
Once the police were involved, resisting an officer is illegal and the thin line between exercising civil rights and breaking the law is quickly crossed.
I support Meyer's argument and do believe that the connection between Bush and Kerry is somewhat of a conspiracy, but you must act like a civil human being if you expect to be heard as one. You can't tell police officers to get off of you and keep squirming away from them when they are ordered to escort you out of a public place.
Even so, two police officers have been placed on leave for their actions against Meyer and, just as I predicted, Meyer was charged with resisting an officer. Meyer was also charged with disturbing the peace, and that's nothing short of hogwash.
I'll admit, I know very little about criminal justice, aside from my personal track record, but I don't believe Meyer was disturbing the peace any more than he was exercising his right of the First Amendment.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
Travis Gil
posted 9/21/07 @ 11:52 PM EST
Sam Hollingsworth or shall I say "Py" has written a great article. Not only did he inform me on the subject, he also grabbed my attention. As I was reading I realized how "Py's" unique style really created a visual of the whole incident! It was as if I was actually there. (Continued…)
Post a Comment