UCLA Students Demonstrate Against UCPD Taser Use

It’s beginning to feel a lot like a UC again on campus. For the first time in years, UCLA students threw down their books and returned to their activist roots by staging a major demonstration this afternoon. Students have been shocked and frustrated by the recent tasering of a UCLA student by UCPD officers at the student library, and it has grown to the point where many are feeling the need to voice their frustration to the masses. There have been many student demonstrations here in the past couple of years, but not many on this scale.

Students descended upon Kerchoff Hall in droves today at 12pm chanting against excessive force, and the need to police the police. Protest leaders demanded that an independent investigation take place instead of one by the campus authorities, and also that the officers in question be suspended during the investigation. Every major news outlet was there to witness the protests taking place.

So was LAist.

An eyewitness speaks:

“What I witnessed firsthand that night was sickening [...] Regardless of whether he complied right away or not, there was no excuse to continue with such excessive force after he was already under control and handcuffed.”

More photos after the jump.