Democracy for Vancouver

the Gator way:

Andrew Meyer has addressed an apology letter to UF students, UF President Bernie Machen and Student Government for his “failure to act calmly” during a Sept. 17 forum with Sen. John Kerry.

In a letter released to the Alligator on Monday afternoon, Meyer wrote that he “stepped out of line” and felt he had tarnished UF’s image.

“For that again, I am truly sorry,” Meyer wrote.

You’d never guess that Meyer was the poster child for rent-a-cops run amok after he was tackled, tasered and arrested by University of Florida campus police for badgering John Kerry during a question-and-answer session.

The consequences of free speech have been draconian: Meyer was charged with a third-degree felony resisting arrest and second-degree disturbing the peace; he’s withdrawn from classes (at least until January); he’s accepted punishment for violating the Student Code of Conduct; and, he’s made a full confession of wrongdoing.

For what? From what I’ve seen of the arrest, the only thing that Meyer did was hector John Kerry, and then resist when his free speech rights were violated. In return for his free speech he was tackled and jolted with 50,000 volts, then cuffed and taken to jail.

If it were me, I’d be suing the ass off the school and the cops and the event organizers for false arrest, assault and wrongful imprisonment, and publicly asking John Kerry to demand that the school back off, apologize and drop all charges.

Meyer’s lawyer said that Meyer started drafting his groveling apology immediately after his release from jail; it reads like someone (his parents? Dean Wormer?) had his nuts in a noose:

In society, as in life, there are consequences for not following the rules. In this instance, not following the rules has imposed consequences for many people other than myself, people who have seen their school, and perhaps their degree, tarnished in the eyes of others through no fault of their own.

Resistance is futile.