LAist: UCLA Students Demonstrate Against UCPD Taser Use

Dave

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 16:11:28 -0800

He got exactly what he deserved. He attempted to start a riot because of his perceived notion that he was being discriminated against. If he had shown his ID, none of this would have happened. He started it, the authorities ended it.

Crederer

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 20:05:15 -0800

Oh, and the comment made about the woman wearing robes was pretty ridiculous too. You realise they wear that clothing because it's part of their religion right? "America, the land of the free. You are free, just don't practice your religion."

Crederer

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 19:06:02 -0800

The hypocacy of Mr C's comments are hilarious. I especially liked the statement about Arabs trying to ruin western civilization, that was gold. What do you think American's are doing to their society? Destroying it, that's what. Now, the middle east doesn't want to destroy the western world, only a small handful of fanatics do because of attitudes similar to yours. You remind me of those right-wing hicks they always make fun of in South Park. God, I'm so glad to be in Canada so I don't have to deal with biggots like you. Let me guess, you're from the south right? Alabama or Arkansas I'm willing to bet. Blonde hair blue eye people don't commit terrorist crimes? Who shoots up schools, blows up building and form racial discrimination groups dedicated to making life horrendous for foreigners? White people, that's who. Ignorant bastards. I'm white by the way.

Brian

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 12:41:45 -0800

The cops were justified in using a tazer on that jerk. Just show your I.D. and there wouldn't have been a problem. I was even happier to hear he got it twice. Hopefully he learned a lesson.

tony

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 15:01:18 -0800

I always cheer up immensely when during a discussion, the fool resorts to a quote that supports my point. Mr. Masters, you were the first to personally attack the UCLA student. Further, your reasoning, as I pointed out in my previous comment, would lead to Never checking the IDs of non-whites since the pattern of violence in schools has almost always been at the hand of Caucasians. If you'd rather not address the corner you've painted yourself into, we'd all understand, since you've been checkmated.

Robert Masters

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:10:40 -0800

I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left. Margaret Thatcher

tony

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:47:55 -0800

ok racist, your wish is our command -- Killings at US schools have never been conducted by Muslim terrorists Not at the Quaker school this year, not from the University of Texas's clocktower, and not from the halls and lunchrooms at Columbine. Those were all carried out by Caucasians. Infact using your dipshit logic, ONLY whites should have their IDs checked in school libraries since they are the ones who kill people in American schools. What we suggest is, just like when the sheriffs occassionally stroll through the subway asking for "passes or transfers", the campus police should sweep through the libraries and ask Everyone for their Bruin card. Then if this particular student refused to produce one it would be for a far different reason than selective and foolish profiling. It would be because he's being a jackass, like how youre being.

Robert Masters

Wed, 06 Dec 2006 12:00:55 -0800

When terrorists start having blonde hair and blue eyes I will agree that ID should be checked on blonde haired blue eyed woman rather than arabic looking young men. It is foolish and irresponsible to refuse to profile. If Mostafa doesn't like that then he should expect to get tazed.

tony

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 22:51:01 -0800

The guy is an American, born in the USA, going to school at a public university and holed up in a library. His whole point was selective checking of IDs - namely him and only him. As a UCLA senior he felt comfortable enough to call bullshit without the treat of being tasered while handcuffed. When a college library gets blown up at 11pm, you let us know Bobby. Until then I will side with the student and against the cop who choked the fratboy with his nightstick and later shot the unarmed homeless dude in the bathroom. Ricochets are a bitch.

Robert Masters

Tue, 05 Dec 2006 16:22:16 -0800

The guy is a Muslim testing the system of identification in the UCLA library. Guys like him tested our safety systems for gettign onto airplanes pre-9/11. His whole point was probably to incite the campus police and see how long it takes them to escalate. The protesters will be protesting the lack of police help when the library is blown up next time.

MrMR

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 18:40:42 -0800

fuck you DICKI HATEFACE. you deserve 100000 times more to be tasered and I suggest you change your fucking name DICKIE HEAD..

Dickie Hateface

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 09:36:36 -0800

Two things are evident in this situation: 1) The cop definitely showed a lack of restraint and should be demoted or released from his position. 2) If anyone on this *planet* ever deserved to be repeatedly tasered, it was that asshat kid. "Here's your Patriot Act?" Seriously, junior...

steven

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 15:26:04 -0800

as a former uc berkeley who's been to my share of protests - here's how it looks to me: the cop who tasered the student has got to go. he's clearly lost his ability to descalate a crisis. but i gotta tell you - the student seems like a total self-righteous, pretentious dick.

alireza

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 01:43:10 -0800

salam

elzed

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 08:35:28 -0800

"...how the big guys are playing everyone" Ah! You said it!

JK

Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:25:45 -0800

It must be very hard for some of us citizens that have been speaking, writing, reading English all their lives to see people that have just starded learning this language to be working at the top componies in this country. It's the Asians and Indians and Middle easterns that are running the high tech componies in this country. IT's must be very hard to see that the most reachest people leaving in LA and going to UCLA are middle eastersn, we might not speak this language right but at least we speak more than one. So don't hate cause we use our brains and we speak out. And please don't try to get into politics cause you're just too small to understand how the big guys are playing everyone. Don't be full by what you see there is always more dirty details to it.

elzed

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:27:58 -0800

True, and that's just silly. It's certainly possible that one may be a Christian living in Iran.

David

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 21:21:45 -0800

MR_C, According to your logic I have to go back too as my grand parents (like other European) came to the US illegally :D. But I insist I'll go back but only after you. Long Live Diverse US which is our Power

popo

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 20:01:28 -0800

I'm French...in France.. this affair comes in the European union, the whole wide world now know about this affair... and it's important... Mr C, you have to assume you KKK part. Are u 100% American ?(IMPOSSIBLE, IT DON'T EXIST, REMEMBER ALL AMERICANS ARE NOT 100% AMERICANS) They all got there blood from the rest of the world and we all have to be proud of your heritage. That's makes our difference. And so MR C, you can tell to everyone that Iranian origins tells clearly that you are with Jihad? ahahahahah, grew lil boy !! So stop saying stupid things and be smart.

tony

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:08:09 -0800

thanks mazdakali, we linked you back!

Brice

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 08:35:20 -0800

This whole subject is a total waste of time. The taser gun had prevented more death since it has come out than any other technique. Since my dad is a highway potralman and they personal have to be tased before carrying one. I know for a fact that being tased emobels you for seconds. If he would have complied in the first place none of this would have happened. I am proud of the UCPD.

amraam82

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 06:59:19 -0800

Get back to class, or I'm cutting off your allowance. Slap, bang, boof!

mazdakali

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 01:24:39 -0800

we used this photo in: http://www.jour4peace.com/main1.asp?a_id=216 thanks

maryam aria

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:56:10 -0800

Nice Job Dan Biston.. :)))

Dan Biston

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:19:34 -0800

Plain and simple and obvious. The cops are brutes. I've dealt with LAPD and they are ignorant brutes who have no respect for the law. I've also spoken with UCLA administration officials and they are power mad, deluded, and have no concern for the students, only for their own 'legacy' and wealth. The student had every right to be there in a PUBLIC LIBRARY at a state institution paid for by the taxpayers. Yes, paid for by taxpayers and not students. This is not a private school, it is funded by both the state and federally. Even a homeless vagrant has a right to be in the library during hours they are open as long as he is not creating a disturbance. A student quietly working on a paper is not creating a disturbance. The people saying that a public library has the right to demand random ID checks of its patrons are mentally ill.

MR_C

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 00:16:17 -0800

"To Mr_C, Assimilate or get out? Why don't you kick out the Amish...oh yeah, I forgot...they are white." Last I checked, the Amish don't have an agenda to end western civilization. As for Mostafa, his utterings during his apprehension indicate to me that he is NOT a moderate Muslim that wants to live under the Constitution. Mostafa: "Am I the only martyr?" What the hell was that all about? There's something not right about this guy.

maryam aria

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 23:45:38 -0800

Ok sure... I'll drop all of my classes and I"ll forget about graduation and I will take ESL!!!

MR_C

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 23:33:57 -0800

Officers treat them so good and nice.they take them out and let them go.NOONE COULD FEEL A THING IN LIBRARY.nothing happened!That's because they don't give security a problem when asked to leave. It's a no brainer, MaryJane Aisha.

MR_C

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 23:11:41 -0800

you are an uneducated,the most stupidest and ugliest person I've ever seen here on this page.. WE'LL SEE WHO will win the case. You or him!." MaryJane Aisha, please go back to your ESL class. You're not quite "there" yet. You've still got some Spanglish going on. It's pretty ugly. IMHO

maryam aria

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:46:46 -0800

MR-C.. you are an uneducated,the most stupidest and ugliest person I've ever seen here on this page.. WE'LL SEE WHO will win the case. You or him!.

MR_C

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 21:07:01 -0800

TO MR-C you are a terrorist yourself as well. don't you have anywhere else to post your stupid ideas.!!To MaryJane Aisha Ummm at the moment I can't think of a better place to be than right here. Here, maybe this will calm you down. America Kicks A**

Henry

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:39:11 -0800

Mr_C, Your opinion is appreciated, however your racial banter that accompanies is not. Please practice better tact when justifying your opinion here. And second, he is an American-born citizen. He is not here on a student visa. His parents are of Iranian descent, however they are fully eligible citizens and he is by every right an American. Thank you.

MR_C

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 20:24:45 -0800

because if that happens to you one day noone will every cry out for you. NO ONE...."I don't have to ever worry about it. I'm not a dumb ass punk Muslim with no respect for rules and regulations. He needs to be expelled and deported if he's here on a student visa. Is he, by the way? Here on a student visa? Green card? Or is he an American jihadi? Oh by the way, MaryJane Aisha, you're reading the wrong books as well. Get with the program or you'll someday be dhimmi'd, at which time no one will be there to answer your cries for help. NO ONE!!!

Maryam aria

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:49:28 -0800

TO MR-C you are a terrorist yourself as well. don't you have anywhere else to post your stupid ideas.!!

Mr_C

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:44:34 -0800

Why of all the people he was picked to be carded?Ummmm, yeah, he was the only one to be asked for ID. Yeah right. Uh huh.He didn't show it because he's a holier than thou muslim. If he's here on a student visa he ought be "returned to sender" with no hope of ever returning. I'd put him on the terrorist watch list. Pronto. You, David, are reading the wrong books.

Maryam Aria

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:37:35 -0800

ATTENTION MR-C... read my posting for ISSAC AND KRIS... I think I should have included you as well in that posting... feel sorry for yourself little ass You knowwhat!!! because if that happens to you one day noone will every cry out for you. NO ONE.... MR_C... what a name! Mr-C**ck .....

David

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 19:26:59 -0800

Why off all the people he was picked to be carded? I hope his Browness has nothing to do with it. We need to remind us that America is a diverse country we can't racial profile people and keep getting away with it.

Former UCLA Student

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 15:06:20 -0800

The taser gun fires electric darts to incapacitate a person temporarily. This means the person can be affected anywhere between 5-30 minutes. Multiple use of taser-gun in short period of time can be fatal. The police force absolutely has NO excuse to use taser-gun or any other kind of violent force against an UNARMED student on the University grounds who doesn’t pose any immediate threat to others. The officers are to follow their protocol and call for back up help. Once there are enough officers present, they are to approach the individual under question. Officers are NOT allowed to grab the suspect. They are to maintain respectful distance and talk to the individual. If s/he tries to leave the scene, the offices are to block the individual using their body, NOT TO GRAB THE PERSON. If these two offices felt “UNSAFE” by any means, they were to call for back up and help, not to use their taser-gun against an unarmed student. These two officers are not inline with their own protocol and governing rules. I am a former UCLA student who spent three years on campus. I witnessed few occasions of misuse of power by authorities and police force on campus. This incident is by far the most violent, brutal, and, vicious one.

Mr_C

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 15:04:00 -0800

Just tell the girl that we don't live under the turd world Sharia Law. No need to cover herself with a tent in this country. Tell Mostafa the Muslim to grow up and have respect for rules, regulations, and the laws of this nation and he won't ever get tazed again. You can tell him this on his way out of the door from the college. He needs to be expelled. "Here is your expulsion papers!" I like the top photo of the dumb little girls and their dumb little signs. What are they saying? College students are exempt from the law? In looking at them, I don't think they speak a word of English. They should be expelled as well.

leto

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:39:04 -0800

To Mr_C, Assimilate or get out? Why don't you kick out the Amish...oh yeah, I forgot...they are white. Assimilate to whose lifestyle? Not the Native American surely, nor the African American...nor the gays'...? To which/ whose lifestyle are you trying to get everyone to assimilate to? What, how, who are we supposed to refer to? You must have some healthy Hitler genes and your house must be full of KKK decorations.

kanani

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:28:39 -0800

Tasers have no place on a university campus. Shame on the UC Regents for allowing such a contract to be granted that outfitted each campus cop with a taser.

leto

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 12:16:36 -0800

I am an Asian faculty member working at an American University in the Middle East. Most of the faculty are from the USA, Canada, England, and the Middle East. There are about 5 Asian faculty members. I have been stopped a few times by the campus security (they are from Ethiopia, Sudan, ...African countries usually) and they ask me for my ID because I look like I don't belong in a faculty area. I have been screamed at for not having my ID with me. They would never approach any Caucasian on campus; but they do it to me all the time. (I have asked my white colleagues and friends -no one has ever questioned them about their presence anywhere on campus). Unless you have experienced what people like me go through, you will never understand the humiliation of being confronted "where you shouldn't be" just because of your race or color. Ask all the African Americans who have been stopped by the police for going through a white neighborhood; they know exactly what it feels to be singled out. It's not about the ID. Rosa Parks went against regulation by not moving to the back of the bus. Taser her??? It's not about the ID. If a white student had been tasered; he would have been called "a student" at UCLA. But if you're darker skinned with have extra pigments, you're tagged "African American student"-"Asian American"- "Iranian American". Listen to his cries...he sounds pure bred American down to the profanities. It's not about the ID card. To all the people who said he deserved it; what goes around comes around. I wish hard that one day, just one day in your life (no more than one) you would know what it is to suffer humiliation such as this at the hands of your fellow humans. To all you folks with no sympathy or compassion in your hearts for a fellow human being who is hurting and crying in anguish; you are probably the same people who want "world peace" and can't understand why the world cannot get along. Look in the mirror; it's not about the ID.

Maryam Aria

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 10:37:16 -0800

CAN'T HOLD IT ANYMORE, I have seen homelesses sleeping in the 24 hour library .. So dirty,smelly and disgusting. Officers treat them so good and nice.they take them out and let them go.NOONE COULD FEEL A THING IN LIBRARY.nothing happened! tell me did he have a student ID! what was he doing at library around 2h30am!!! use your judgment....

Maryam ARia

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 10:34:07 -0800

TO ISSAC AND KRISS.. SHUT UP.SHUT UP..SHUT UP.. PLEASEEEEEEEEE DON'T POST ANYTHING MORE STUPID AND NONSENCE HERE. who are you! an animal! or a human being! I have been thinking of that violent video on youtube since i watched it. I cried for that guy. and GUESS WHAT!! I CRY FOR YOU TWO " zaboun nafahm" FOR POSTING YOUR STUPID IDEAS HERE. A STUDENT NEED TO BE AT LIBRARY AT 11PM,MINDINGHT,10AM AND ETC..... WHEREELSE HE COULD BE AT THAT TIME! LAUGH AT YOURSELF AND LEAVE THIS PAGE BEFORE MORE PEOPLE LAUGH AT YOU.. bye the way one last question! WHERE ARE YOU FROM ISSAC!!! WHERE ARE YOU FROM KRIS! ISSAC IF I EVER SEE YOU AT UCLA,ON CAMPUS, ON THE STREET I WILL POINT AT YOU AND SINGLE YOU OUT.. ...

Mr_C

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 07:44:18 -0800

"This must be rather serious. One can see they're even protesting in the Middle East as seen by the last picture."I posted something similar and it was deleted. Must have been the "assimilate or get out of my country" part that did me in. Or maybe it was the reference to the tent that she's wearing.

orwell's doormat

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:40:18 -0800

should have read "let go of me" I'm not surprised by people denouncing the student. Their is a lot of resentment (amoung some)for anyone who seems "priviledged" - i.e. a university student. It's a blue collar vs. upper-middle class knee-jerk reaction. The kid may be the most obnoxious brat in the world but that does not give the protectors of justice in our society the right to inflict causeless harm and pain on him. Unless you live in a dictatorship, in which case justice is a farce.

orwell's doormat

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:37:09 -0800

Seriously, no well-trained police officer will EVER grab a suspects' arm UNLESS he is TRYING to provoke an aggressive response. I live in L.A. and have witnessed dozens of confrontations between LAPD and drunk, aggressive, crazy homeless people (I live in Venice) as well as LAPD arresting guys who have stolen cars, or been involved in drug or violent crimes. NOT ONCE have I ever seen an LAPD officer grab someone. The rule is that they retain a respectful distance, form a cordon around the individual and TALK them into putting their hands against the wall, police car, etc. If the individual attempts to walk away, the LAPD officer blocks him with his body. I study martial arts and we learn that if you grab ANYONE by the arm their automatic reaction is going to be to a) shout "leg go of me" b) try to pull away. We learn to incite this reaction so that we can use the person's force against them. So, unless you're a) a dumb shit cop who has no business being on the force or b) an asshole cop who is trying to incite a response, you NEVER, EVER, EVER act the way those cops in the library acted. I used to live in Westwood (UCLA) - the UCPD were uniformly badly trained, cowardly do-nothings. They didn't have the guts to break up a rowdy party full of underage drinkers at 3 a.m. Obviously, they're only good at tackling a lone library patron with a 4:1 ratio and tasers.

orwell's doormat

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:29:51 -0800

blame the victim blame the victim blame the victim "the jews had it coming to them" "the blacks had it coming to them" "the commies had it coming to them" "the capitalist pigs had it coming to them" obey authority obey authority obey authority

Bob

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 06:03:40 -0800

hey everyone, I'm the guy in the 2nd picture. I am the eye witness. I would just like to say that Isaac, you are just like 1/3 of the stupid student population at UCLA. You read these bias stories and watch the video that you cant see anything in and you think you know everything. I would just like to tell you that you are severely wrong and you should just stop talking now before you sound any more stupid than you already do. The video serves no justice to what actually happened. That person easily could have been me. I see bums sleeping in the library every night and they are NEVER EVER hassled. Students don’t pose any sort of threat to other students, bums might… From what I saw, I would honestly say that hanging these cops would be a nice punishment.

Bob

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 03:42:14 -0800

elzed

Sun, 19 Nov 2006 01:59:37 -0800

This must be rather serious. One can see they're even protesting in the Middle East as seen by the last picture.

Jack

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 23:36:27 -0800

There are legitimate questions about whether he should have been tasered. But what frightens me more are the people who fail to give him any responsibility for the events of that day. The reality is that the student started the problem. It is routine for students to be asked to show their ID at the library. It is not that big a deal. It is not an infringement of anyones liberties to be asked to show their ID in this setting. Show the bleeping card and nothing happens. But he decided to make a big deal out of this and look what happened. The bottom line is that he bears some responsibility for this.

corduroy joe

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 23:14:07 -0800

Given the documented high number of bombings, knife attacks and other violence that occurs in campus libraries, the rent-a-cops viciousness was entirely justified.

spacecrystal

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 23:04:50 -0800

It's gonna be interesting to see what the reaction of lobying group who got the whole 'ID check starting at 11pm' policy put in place will be. Eventually, in those west coast courts, that kids gonna walk out with more $. The safety policies of checking ID's will probably be done away with, in the interest of safety. Then you'll have more disruptions and violence in a library that will become an easy target for some Islamofacist or other nut who wants to target those tolerant of gays or women's rights or jews or whatever. It won't go down this way, but the smart way to fix the problem would be to tighten the restrictions on taser usage while keeping them issued to all the campus cops. When another incident like this happens and the disruptive doofus goes limp while screaming like a moron, have them ready with a muzzle, a wheelchair, and a bunch of zip strips(the plastic zipper lines that cops use in place of handcuffs). They can muzzle him to stop the noise disruption, pick him up gently and put him in the wheelchair, hold him there forcibly while using the zip-strips to tie him down so he can't go limp and fall out or get up and run off. Then use the handicap access ramps in the library to get said doofus out of there and down to the security office to book him. I'd bet though that safety provisions in the library are curtailed to the point that there is zero campus cop presence in the library, no ID's are checked, you know, to keep the imperialist neocon presence away and restricted from oppressing the students with safety. Then soon afterward, once a few students get stabbed, shot, or bombed to death, the campus will get sued for not providing adequate safety and the blame will be put on Bush and those dirty conservatives who used Rove's mind control machine to trick the students into abandoning safety because the neocons wanted said students dead anyway. Stupid Rove mind control machine.

outraged

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 22:05:10 -0800

Chancellor Abrams bureaucratic, pussyfoot response to this incident demonstrates a serious lack of respect for the rights of students, not to mention very poor leadership. Does he want UCLA to be remembered for this incident, like Kent State?

outraged

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 22:00:40 -0800

issac it is difficult to believe that any human being could be so confused as to think that because a student perhaps wrongly refuses to produce an ID in a university library he should be subjected to 50,000 volts of electricity. Nearly 200 people have died from taser attacks. People who have experienced the effect of a Taser typically liken it to a debilitating, full-body seizure, complete with mental disorientation and loss of control over bodily functions. That would include the ability to stand up. In my view the reaction on the campus, as far as I can judge in from media reports is far too mild. Students should organize a boycott of classes and stage a sit down in front of the chancellors office until the university agrees to take tasers out of the hands of camups police and agrees to suspend the criminal officers who pertetrated this outrage.

RASA AMELZADEH

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:44:41 -0800

ISAAC,ISSAC,ISSAC.For your informatino Issac, I think you should totally start your education from the ground zero! How would you re-act to such an unhumanly acttion so cool and relax? I wonder how you "kid" raised up! why don't you shut your mouth and go back to wherever they treat you like you deserve. may be go to the same library. seems like you would like it.

maryam aria

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:43:42 -0800

clovis

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:40:52 -0800

I must say the kid should be happy he is not in Guantanamo already. After all he did not show his ID.

maryam aria

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 18:29:49 -0800

This was one of the most cruel and cruel think I had ever seen. I am a student myself @ SFSU.Had never seen such a stupid and cruel attack to a student in a library! Fine, he refused to show his ID Ok handcough him and take him out.Don't torture him, Don't abuse him, don't pull him on the ground,don't treat him like he is a murder! Please for god sake stop your behavoir! Do what you have to do but you are a human being too! just like him. just like anyone else. Those police officers must be fired and they should not be give badges or rights to abuse students. Come on, a study enviroment is too calm people down not to abuse them. Keep your studpid power to yourself and do not use it against others. Assholes.. I hate you.

Henry

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 17:49:04 -0800

justme, I don't understand how this situation questions UCLA as a college of "Higher Education". The cops are not UCLA students, and I doubt they ever were. Second, why is everyone throwing out the "assume he has a bomb" bullshit. Has the "war on terror" really dissolved your brains into paranoid putty? Unbelievable. I am afraid of living in a world where every person who doesn't give straight answers is to be treated like he is carrying a bomb. WTF is wrong with you people?

justme

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 16:36:53 -0800

America doesn't learn its lessons of history. America, like UCLA just glaringly demonstrated, and all the hate mongers commenting about this incident, is all about White Supremacy. No progress in 200 years, still a White Nation where teasing others is O.K. but not teasing a white person. What a shame. And I really thought UCLA was a college of "Higher Education". Only in America...

PHD STUDENT IN LONDON

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 15:07:51 -0800

IS UCLA A MILITARY UNIVERSITY? OR BOOS OF UCLA IS GENERAL?OR UCLA IS AFGHANISTAN?OR IRAQ?HEY COPS WHATS GOING ON?

ConcernedCitizen101

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 14:05:00 -0800

Outrageous! The entire police presence should be banned. The students are obviously much more educated, knowedgeable, and in control of themselves than the police are. Besides, why waste so much money on paying their exorbitant salaries? This country needs to ban the military, the police, and ROTC, and any other group that attempts to use force to keep order. Once the fascist pigs and warmongering military leaves the shores of the US for good, we will have peace for all eternity, because there are no bad people that would ever want to hurt us, right? Won't we all just get along? Show the ocuntry! Start at UCLA! No more cops, if the capitalist pig administrators insist on keeping a police presence, question everything they do until they are rendered powerless by political correctness! When a student refuses to comply with an order, fire the cop! You show them, UCLA, I'm sure no students would ever be assaulted or robbed, you're much too civilized and elite for anyone to ever attack you.

Borat

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 13:02:58 -0800

Loudmouth troublemaker got what he deserved. He should be thankful for the privilege of a UCLA education.

justpassingby

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 12:41:07 -0800

I LOL@Thaddeus You would taser a guy with an explosive belt? I guess that would solve both problems. See my earlier post, #42. End of story.

tony

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 12:37:32 -0800

Thaddeus, perhaps you haven't been keeping up: 1. when requested he did ID himself as a UCLA student, he just didn't like the fact that he was the only one who was being "randomly" asked to produce ID in a library full of other students 2. if students shouldnt be in the library at 11pm, where should they be? 3. he actually told the cops on the tape that he was leaving 4. true he could have explosives, but so could everyone. should we pat down every person everywhere? also, since there hasn't been any students with bombs in any California universities in recent years, the liklihood of this guy having one is slim 5. again, he said he would leave, but it was made difficult when he was handcuffed and repeatedly stunned. 6. your concern should be the safety for all people including the student being stunned while cuffed. criticism for police is healthy, and in this case, prudent.

justpassingby

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 12:34:29 -0800

I found some scientific law enforcement study of taser use and the behavior of the UCLAPD was out of bounds in several instances. I quote: http://www.theppsc.org/Staff_Views/Czarnecki/Taser.Recommendations.htm * Only use TASER for physically assaultive subjects UCLAPD 0 VICTIM 1 * Limit number of TASER exposures when possible (3 is probably a reasonable number) UCLAPD 0 VICTIM 2 (he was tasered at least 5 times) * Identify high-risk subjects: age extremes, pregnancy, excited delirium UCLAPD 0 VICTIM 3 (victim claimed medical condition after tasing) * Weigh the alternatives to the TASER (deadly force, baton…) and use TASER when preferable to alternatives UCLAPD 0 VICTIM 4 (victim was already restrained) * Train all officers in excited delirium recognition and management UCLAPD 0 VICTIM 5 (victim sounded incoherent after initial tasing, even his profanity sounded desperate) * Call EMS if high-risk subject UCLAPD 0 VICTIM 6 (victim claimed medical condition but was released from police station without medical inquiry) * Call EMS if more than 3 TASER exposures UCLAPD 0 VICTIM 7 (see above) * TASER's should not replace training and other weapons (defensive tactics, baton, firearm…) UCLAPD 0 VICTIM 8 (for at least 4 taser shots victim was restrained) * When properly used, TASER is generally non-deadly force, but should be considered higher on the physical force scale than OC UCLAPD 0 VICTIM 9 (see above) I suggest you read about taser use and other law enforcement issues from the intelligent multidisciplinary researchers at the Police Policy Studies Council.

Thaddeus

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 12:21:10 -0800

Why does everybody always think they have better judgement than the police? Yes, they can possibly go overboard, but what if these thoughts were in their head in the situtation-in-question: 1) When requested, this person has not identified himself as a UCLA student. 2) This person is in a place he should not be. 3) This person is refusing to leave. 4) I do not know whether this person is armed or carrying any explosive devices! 5) This person is still refusing to leave, instead staying in an area with lots of people. 6) My concern is the safety of those people. Criticism of police in hindsight is ridiculous! They have to handle situations as they happen, and make judgment calls.

kris

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 10:35:36 -0800

I am so proud of you guys for doing this. This was so wrong on so many levels. People that are twisted and sadistic and agree with what the police did so need to keep this in perspective - his first alleged crime here was trying to go to the library without an ID.

aileen

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 10:00:10 -0800

that guy is a douche and the police shouldn't have exerted that much force. both sides handled it with a sheer level of stupidity.

Al

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 09:53:27 -0800

This happened at the library, in US,in front of witnesses. Let’s think what is going on in guantanamo prison and Iraq. Sham …

g1lgam3sh

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 09:25:21 -0800

I can understand a little the reaction of those who are scared that allowing even a little resistance will lead to the total undermining of authority. There can be no other reason for excusing this. Those officers obviously had a Cartman moment. Smite tyrants wherever ye find them .... it's an obligation doncha know.

tc

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 09:24:29 -0800

I'm afraid to say 9/10 cops are NOT good guys. A tiny fraction of police abuse gets captured on film and yet there's tons of footage. Conclusion: Watch out. Your police can and will kill you.

TheMan

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 01:51:31 -0800

Cops that do this stuff need to be punished within the full limit of the law. 9 out of 10 cops are good guys and I have a few friends that are cops. But even they say that guys like this need to get busted down because they give cops a bad name and make their jobs harder. The kid was already under control when they tased him repeatedly then tell him after he is down to get up or he will get tased again. The whole point of tasing someone is to put them down, not make them get up and walk around. They had a major brain fart. These cops are idiots and deserve to be fired and thrown in jail for a while to think about it and be make an example. End of story.

peg

Sat, 18 Nov 2006 00:52:05 -0800

as a member of the "older generation" (living in the southeast), i just want to say thank you to the students for standing up and speaking out! if i lived closer, i would be right there with you!

Nate

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 23:26:47 -0800

I don't have a tv anymore. Has this story gotten much play? Any local or national outlets cover the protest?

Merp

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 22:51:03 -0800

I could barely watch the video... so disgusting. I'm glad to see people standing up to these "cops". I don't even know what to say, it's just so disgusting. I have seen cops get this kind of attitude before. YouTube and sites like it are helping people to show how the government really is sometimes. It seems like more and more the only true freedom is coming to us on the net. On my 21st birthday me and some friends got drunk and decided to go walk around town. We sat on the steps of a business next to a bar and there were a couple cops across the street waiting for the bar to close so they could arrest people. They put their spotlight on us and told us it was private property and we had to leave. My friend flipped them off and we turned to leave. The cops then turned their lights on, did a u-turn over to where we were, jumped out of the car and grabbed him by the neck. The cops slammed him against the wall and yelled at us to get back. They kept yelling at me so I turned and walked away. They wouldn't even tell me what they did with my friend... So video is good and I'm going to look into getting a cellphone with good video capabilities.

Drew

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:56:10 -0800

It's sickening that people can defend this. Ever given a little lip to a fat old traffic cop who gives you a speeding ticket for going 3 mph over the limit? Been tasered for it? Jesus Christ this country is going down the tubes. I cannot believe this happened and people just accept it. Even if the kid was a child molesting rapist neo-Nazi who had just ran around the library screaming for an hour, ripping up everyone's homework assignments and pissing into the garbage cans, he shouldn't be cuffed and tortured with a god damn taser for several minutes. That's just not how America is. Or was. I know it was probably a very shocking event to witness, and that two wrongs do not make a right, and that violence begets more violence and all that... but I would like to think that if I had been there, I would have thrown a chair through a window or tossed a computer monitor or something and started a riot, to make sure those cops didn't get a chance to drag the kid out of there scot free.

gdfgdfg

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:55:16 -0800

U C L A SUCKSSSSSSS GO TROJANS WHOOOOOO

Weak Minds Love Fascism

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:54:41 -0800

It's so clearly abuse. It takes 4 full grown professional males and 5 tazerings to subdue a 22 yearold handuffed boy? I feel so much safer now. Thanks.

veeve

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:49:03 -0800

"I think everyone is blowing this incident out of proportion, especially those who are playing the race card. Civil Rights violation? Yeah Right! My understanding is the student refused to show his ID, didn't comply with the officers, and tried to incite the crowd. Not to mention yelling and screaming like a little bitch. The officers were just doing their job and removing a disruptive student from the library who was apparently not complying with a simple request to show ID. The Taser was necessary to make him comply with his obvious refusal to comply with the officers." You really don't get it, do you? This was a conscious act of civil disobedience on the student's part. According to his attorney who appeared on "Countdown", the student felt he was being racially profiled from the beginning and apparently asked the CSO (rent-a-cop) to check the id's of some of the Caucasian students around him so that he too, 'could feel safe'. Whether you agree with his act of civil disobedience or not, he has the right to anticipate that when he goes limp as a sign of protest, the cops will drag him out. 'Going limp' is the universal commandment when confronted by cops during a protest. If you go limp, you are NOT RESISTING ARREST and it is much less likely that you will inadvertantly throw an elbow or a headbut which may hit a cop and thus you get charged with assaulting a police officer. Going limp is civil disobedience. In fact, that is what they charged him with. 'Resisting and obstructing a police officer'; not 'resisting arrest'. Those officers should know that you can't stun someone who is not resisting arrest. It is assault by the officers. Finally, if you had paid attention in any government or history class in your life, you might have already learned this; but most of all, you think he yelled like a bitch. You coward! That kid has the heart of a lion! He took 5 stuns of thousands of volts coursing through his body, and he still maintained his protest by remaining limp, before the neanderthal officers did what they should have in the first place and dragged him off. That is the correct procedure. Learn a little bit about the law. Read a book on civics. Stop wasting our oxygen.

Plisko

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 21:40:05 -0800

Cops use tasers nowdays when they don't feel like subduing someone physically. Why bother getting dirty or tired when you can just push a button? It's been said already but it's worth saying again: Using intense pain to force compliance is not appropriate if there is no danger to the officers. People who support this watch too many movies.

meow

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:29:55 -0800

I haven't been able to get this video out of my mind. This event. We are in serious trouble in the U.S. Police state is here. I will be talking to my students about it to see what they think. I am hoping that young man can get some sleep tonight, if he isn't totally sick after the events. To those of you who think that this is justified, put your balls on the gas burner for two/three minutes (cause it is actually men who are screaming NO for the most part across the internet--masculinity is so cool) and then "stand up"--then repeat the exercise, oh and then repeat it again---bet you will want to stand, obey authority and then salute the flag-- all while handcuffed.

clyde

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 20:27:24 -0800

There is a really pointless mix fact, opinion and outright damn stupidity on this board regarding what happened here. Let’s try to sort this out for a sec. First of all, if you are asked by a member of law enforcement for some form of ID you are required to provide it if you are on private or restricted public property such as a university library. There is no right to withhold ID under such circumstances from my understanding of the law. Second, there is some dispute over the course of events before what we can see in the video. There is however security video taken by the school that has not been released as virtually the entire campus is covered in cameras. This video is key to understanding part of the lead up to the incident. Third, there are reports that the student was walking away from the police and leaving the building, reports of obnoxious behavior by the student, and other reports that say that he was working on a computer that cannot be accessed by anyone without a valid student ID. Even his race has been brought up in these discussions as the main part of the story. And little of this really matters. What can be determined for certain is only available from the only evidence we have, the video. It is clear that at least some of the taser use was done AFTER the student was handcuffed. The student is on the floor, in the doorway, handcuffed and dragged up by 2 officers and tasered. This man is in custody, taking no offensive action and the officers applied a taser. Why? Because he was "refusing to stand up"? For those unfamiliar with tasers, it is not uncommon for a person tasered to be totally incapacitated and unable to stand. These officers could have simply carried the man out, but instead it appears that they decided to taser the student. Why? Too lazy to carry him? Wanted to force compliance through the use of pain? As a way of showing who was boss? Pure sadism? Then one officer is clearly threatening another student for doing nothing more than exercising his right to ask the officer for his name. The officer has no legal right not to provide this information to any citizen who requests it in most jurisdictions, but perhaps UCLA officers are not required to under CA laws. Either way this threat was utterly unnecessary and shows thuggish behavior on the part of the officer in question. Some on this board have said that he deserved it because he did not show the officers his ID. Would this have been different if he had simply been punched by the cops into submission? How about being beaten by clubs? Perhaps he could have been kneecapped with a pistol shot? And let me say again, I’m only talking about the actions we can see on the video after the student was in cuffs. Just because the taser tends not to leave a mark, does not change the fact that it is a use of force. This is a case of a person being punished without trial with physical force for what is at worst a minor legal infraction of not showing ID and possibly mouthing off. Once the student was in custody there was no further need for the use of physical force. If this justifiable to any of you, think about what the police can be authorized to do under that theory if you should be accused of speeding or passing a red light, 2 illegal actions that both endanger human life far more than a student’s bad attitude.

j

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:58:52 -0800

Did any of you guys who think this "kid" was.. uh... acting out actually watch the video on You Tube? I did, and it was pretty disturbing. Sure Tabatabainejad was being defiant and all (I even agree with that), but I think whoever posted under "voice of reason" has the smartest thing to say on this comment page: it is written into our consitutiion that we have a right to be free from cruel and unreasonable punishment. the supreme court has grappled with this since the begining of the United States and it's pretty clear to me that tazering someone who is handcuffed and physically unable to fight back is excessive force. if you don't believe me, please, just go to youtube.com and see the video for yourself. No one is above the law, and if I were on a jury and saw this video as evidence I would convict the cops of battery, assault on an unarmed man, and excessive force. Not to be a reductivist, but I think it's really just that simple actually.

Seewee

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:55:00 -0800

Fletch, gimme a break. Comparing this kid to Ghandi or MLK is quite a stretch. To the others saying he deserved a tasing because he was being a prick you're just as out of line. Here's the thing about this great nation... there's nothing illegal about being a prick to cops. Did they have every right to escort him out. Yes. Physically if he doesn't comply. Yes. But what would they have done w/o tasers? They would have just dragged his arse out of there. There's no possible justification for the taser in that situation where the student was not violent. That wasn't exactly the brink of a riot. It only became that way because of the actions by the police, not the student.

Isaac

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:47:57 -0800

Then he should have picked a different school. I COMPLETELY support making ID a requirement for being in campus facilities. When I was in college I had to show my ID frequently, and that was long before Bush (who, believe me, I cannot stand) and 9/11 and everything.

raincoaster

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:40:25 -0800

It's illegal to require that people in the US carry their ID on them at all times and produce it whenever the police demand to see it. This is not an obscure point; it's one of the founding principles of freedom in the United States. Unless you are arrested, you do not have to identify yourself to the police. This is one of the differences between the US and a police state, even if it only remains on paper. The function of the police (when there is no crime taking place) is the maintenance of order. In what sense can their actions be said to have contributed to this?

gbo

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:34:01 -0800

This is one of the most disgusting things I've seen in years. If I had been in that room, I would have picked up the nearest encyclopedia and launched it at one of the pig's faces. Tasers were never meant to be pain compliance tools. Using them in this way is cruel and unusual, not to mention barbaric. Three or more cops couldn't manage to escort out one mildy pissed-off kid? Please. And to taser him 4-5 times after he was clearly down and in shock is akin to TORTURE. No more tasers in our schools, please.

UCLA fan

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:29:31 -0800

1. The student was leaving. The cop insisted on putting his hands on him, to hold him and control him as he left. That was unnecessary. The student told the cop to take his hands off him. In anger, the cops used the Taser to enforce obedience. The cops involved need to be identified and fired. 2. Students who asked for the cops' names and badge numbers were threatened with the Taser also. Asking a question is not a violent threatening act. Again, those cops should be identified and fired. 3. UCLA Campus police need to redefine their relationship with the students.

Uncontainable Spirit

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:27:23 -0800

He was asked to show ID. He refused. He was asked to leave REPEATEDLY, he refused. He ONLY began to leave when the second tier security arrived. One of the officers attempted to stop him by securing his arm probably to ask him questions like; Who are you? Why did you refuse to leave? What's in your backpack? Questions you'd definitely want to know from a guy who ONLY decided to leave once the police arrived. The same individuals here who are in an upraor about this situation being unnecessary are the very same individuals who would be railing against the officers if this individual had a gun or a bomb. All of this would be a non-issue had he simply either showed his ID or left. He was mentally aware enough to claim "abuse of power" to the cops, and when they told him to stand up, he said "F** you." Screw the little punk. All he needed to do was what was asked off him. But no... idealistic little college prick has to do what comes so instinctively to a college kid (not all of them of course): Rebel. Protest. March. Demonstrate. While those traits were noble in that they were used effectively to combat and cure such social injustice as civil rights, and war, this was nothing but a big mouth smartass who refused to follow the rules. This is a classic case of taking on the bull and getting the horns. He had to know, even if it's in retrospect, that he was dealt a losing hand, here. And he dug his own grave. I don't like pain, and feel for anyone who suffers pain; but I can't go with a defiant student. I look at it like this: he just earned a few stripes towards rank in the real world.

Ba'al

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:19:53 -0800

Cops on campuses everywhere need to learn immediately that students pay a lot of money to attend these schools, and but for the students these guys would be rent-a-cops at Walmart instead of at the much more pleasant environment of a college or university. The "random" ID check at a library is not something that passes the smell test. Tasing a student who is already on the ground is cowardly and sadistic. The "cop" who threatened to tase the student bystander very obviously needs to be fired at once. I am a college professor, and I have spent most of my life on campuses. Things skip a generation or so, but I am glad to see that the latest group of students have a more developed sense of rebellion. It does my heart good.

Christopher Steele

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:15:55 -0800

6 years of Bush's neo-con empire have done the trick. RDizzle and Isaac's brains have turned to mush. Since when is tasering a student 5 times a proportional response to a failure to produce "papers"? These two readers responses are evidence of the weakness of minds who are willing to submit to authoritarianism in lieu of reason. It is the slippery slope to authoritarian fascism.

voice of reason

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:11:04 -0800

Oh great, Isaac's and the trolls are back. The thing about the authoritarian's argument, that the police should be obeyed and the law upheld, ergo brutal methods are justified overlooks an important point. The police and authorities are not above the law either. They swear to serve and protect the public, and their actions are subject to their own laws of conduct and proceedure. They are not free to break their own laws in a way that would compromise their mission to serve and protect. Real life police work isn't like in the movies.

Antid Oto

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:09:53 -0800

What is the point of lumping military recruiters in the the UCLA police? Those are Spartacists holding those signs. Don't take them too seriously. Hardly anybody else does. The Taser was necessary to make him comply with his obvious refusal to comply with the officers. Tasers are supposed to be used to protect police officers from danger. We don't allow cops to use pain to make people comply with their orders if there's no danger to them or anyone else.

Fletch

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:08:49 -0800

Isaac (post #12), First off, I'd like to see you try and walk after getting tasered repeatedly. Secondly, the "Taser" is not to be used against people as a tool to force obediance. It is to be used as a "less than lethal" force against VIOLENT assailants. This "kid" was a man that didn't have his ID and was exercising his rights of Civil Disobediance. Tell me, do you think it would be okay if Ghandi had been tasered for practicing Civil Disobediance? Or Martin Luthor King Jr.? This weapon is a serious threat to our civil liberties. Abuse of it must not be tolerated, even by submissive types like yourself.

Steph Mineart

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 19:08:09 -0800

Rosa Parks refused to get up and leave. This guy actually did try to leave, and he was pulled back into the room by the cops.

Nancy Richardson

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:56:45 -0800

Issac, Do you think it is okay to torture people that are handcuffs just because they are being a jerk, if that is your point. If so, seeing you are more than willing to commit that particular crime, are you volunteering for a little unicop justice?

Isaac

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:52:45 -0800

I have no sympathy for the kid. All he had to do was get up and leave. There is absolutely nothing wrong with requiring people in a campus library to have an ID on them. I don't appreciate people playing games with the cops, and I hope the jackass never gets a dime from anyone.

RDizzle

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:44:23 -0800

I think everyone is blowing this incident out of proportion, especially those who are playing the race card. Civil Rights violation? Yeah Right! My understanding is the student refused to show his ID, didn't comply with the officers, and tried to incite the crowd. Not to mention yelling and screaming like a little bitch. The officers were just doing their job and removing a disruptive student from the library who was apparently not complying with a simple request to show ID. The Taser was necessary to make him comply with his obvious refusal to comply with the officers.

Graybaby

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:41:55 -0800

" Students have been shocked and frustrated"... Shocked. Nice work. Enjoy.................G

DKarma

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:20:40 -0800

I have a samsun t309 which gives over 60 seconds of video per clip i think. Mad love to all the people who showed up to support freedom and oppose fascism.

Chuck

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:15:24 -0800

What type of Camera Phone did he use? Make and Model, Please ! Mine only gives me 15 seconds of video.

PTC

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 18:08:07 -0800

What is the point of lumping military recruiters in the the UCLA police? I do not get the connection at all. Recruiters are not a symbol of authority, nor do they have any power to arrest or detain college students... they have no authority. Seems like a rather ridiculous point to make. I suppose the police may be more of a bother than they are really worth. I would imagine they spend more of their time breaking up a good party than doing much that defends the students... that about right? Thanks for your time. PC.

Roger Drowne EC

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 17:54:11 -0800

THANK GODs 4 PROTESTERS the PAINTING - 2001 23 X 48 in. see INDEX - 18 PATRIOT, PROTEST, DEMOCRACY PAINTINGS at... http://www.RogerART.com Thank U, PROTESTERS ALL OK 2 COPY and PASS it ON Tasers, Against Students Taseing GET UP - JUMP UP - STAND UP 4 YOUR RIGHTS - NOW

GottaLaff

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 17:46:20 -0800

I remember my days at UCLA, the protests, the nights we took over the Administration Building, when protests meant something. This is a welcome flashback to those days. This was a horrendous incident. I'm so proud of the protesters. They're speaking for so many of us who feel like screaming right now.

mds

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:56:02 -0800

"For the first time this century, UCLA students threw down their books and returned to their activist roots" -- you mean "first time this afternoon," right? From what I saw this was one of the smaller recent protests. (eg. way more students showed up to protest something or other about diversity a couple weeks ago...) http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ucla3nov03,1,3182448.story?coll=la-headlines-california

HijabMan

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:48:17 -0800

Thanks for the updates and photos. Much love and respect

steph

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:45:11 -0800

THANK YOU for covering this! I'm so glad that some good is coming out of this.

naina

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:28:04 -0800

great photos...thanks for covering this!