Yesterday a student leaving a library at UCLA was tasered by Campus Police for not showing identification on command.
Judging by the news article posted here, the story basically breaks down like this: The kid either didn’t have or refused to show ID. If he had it on him, I don’t see why this whole situation would have arose, so I’m assuming he didn’t and any report saying otherwise is probably slanted towards the police. The LA Times seems to be reporting the story this way, taking the side of the police and portaying Tabatabainejad as “non-compliant.” According to DailyKos he was of Muslim descent too, which could have had something to do with the tension the police show in the video.
In any event, Mostafa Tabatabainejad didn’t really seem to be doing anything that would warrant such a debacle, let alone a tasering. I understand campus police have a job they’re paid to do, but that doesn’t mean acting the way they did, allegedly jamming the taser into his ass cheek. On the other hand, if Tabatabainejad had just been a little more calm and compliant, the situation probably wouldn’t have become what it did.
Anyway, here’s the video. Decide for yourself.
After just watching the video again, it amazes me what fear will do to people.
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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 pri.ck 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.