Getting serious for a moment

[luvxander]

You guys know how I am. I don't watch the news and I don't read the newspaper. Basically because I usually feel that if it doesn't directly involve me, I could care less. It's boring as hell.

But this caught my attention today. I don't know if any of you have seen it or not, but I think everyone should. This, to me, is evidence of the growing abuse of police power. When something as small as forgetting your student I.D. card can get you Tasered, repeatedly, there's something wrong, somewhere.

The Daily Bruin article - there's a 6 minute Quicktime video embedded in the article that someone managed to get of the incident, sound included.

And, for those of you without Quicktime, they also put it up on YouTube.

Apparently, some cops think the phrases "I'm not fighting you." and "I said I would leave." are someone's resistance effort.

Comments

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

I suppose it's better than in the 'seventies, when the cops would have just shot the students.

This is disgusting, and I wonder if they would have bothered with the kid if his skin were a lighter shade.

[luvxander.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was wondering that myself. Or if his name had been Johnson, or something as american sounding. And, giving the benefit of the doubt, they may not have even realized what they were doing, but that doesn't excuse this.

And would it be better than being shot? At least that way, there's a chance that the pain and anguish is over pretty fast.