the Tasering makes the Countdown
Here's Keith Olbermann, showing some of the video, and talking with a reporter from the Daily Bruin. (Thanks to o4fuxache for the heads up.) If you haven't seen the video I posted last night, Warning: it is violent and disturbing.
One thing Olbermann asks about, about the officers threatening to Taser other students, is in the original video of the incident near the end. That video has now been viewed 141,249 times.
I've seen a lot of ignorant comments about this incident, including that the officers Tasering this young man was less risky (to all of them) than carrying him out when he went limp. As if Tasering was a minor thing, just a bit more of a jolt than getting your finger zapped touching a doorknob after you shuffle across a carpet. That's not the case.
Almost 200 people, including healthy people, have died from being shot by a Taser in the last five years. Mostafa Tabatabainejad told police he had a medical condition. They shocked him repeatedly anyway.
I'll have more to say about the implications and social context of this incident later, for anyone who's interested. (I sent L.A. Times link and the video link to Buzzflash last night; it hasn't turned up there yet that I can see. I've sent the Olbermann link now too.)
ETA: Via AmericaBlog: pictures of UCLA students demonstrating against the cops' abuse and for an independent investigation. The best one is the first: a row of women each holding a sign, "I am a student: Don't Taser Me!"
Tabatabainejad will file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the police.
One thing Olbermann asks about, about the officers threatening to Taser other students, is in the original video of the incident near the end. That video has now been viewed 141,249 times.
I've seen a lot of ignorant comments about this incident, including that the officers Tasering this young man was less risky (to all of them) than carrying him out when he went limp. As if Tasering was a minor thing, just a bit more of a jolt than getting your finger zapped touching a doorknob after you shuffle across a carpet. That's not the case.
Almost 200 people, including healthy people, have died from being shot by a Taser in the last five years. Mostafa Tabatabainejad told police he had a medical condition. They shocked him repeatedly anyway.
I'll have more to say about the implications and social context of this incident later, for anyone who's interested. (I sent L.A. Times link and the video link to Buzzflash last night; it hasn't turned up there yet that I can see. I've sent the Olbermann link now too.)
ETA: Via AmericaBlog: pictures of UCLA students demonstrating against the cops' abuse and for an independent investigation. The best one is the first: a row of women each holding a sign, "I am a student: Don't Taser Me!"
Tabatabainejad will file a federal civil rights lawsuit against the police.