Second, here is a transcript of Amy Goodwin from Democracy Now interviewing people involved in the fracas in New Orleans. In this case, it would seem that there are two narratives surrounding the police's use of force in this case. If, as some believe, the police were keeping more members of the opposition from getting into City Council's chamber, the use of force represents a gross violation of the principles of a free, democratic society. If, on the other hand, the police were justified after keeping protesters from tearing down the gates around City Hall, then, you're also violating the principles of democracy, at least in a purely philosophical way, in that the force keeps citizens from entering what should be common municipal space. In any event, it would be interesting to see how many times Tasers were deployed during the course of that protest. See the video goodness below for some background and color the way only CNN can provide. "How do you know you were tazed?" That's some great reporting, Rick Sanchez.
"We Tased him to maintain compliance," [Ogden Police Lt. Scott] Conley said.
Sure, the guy who breaks into a school in the middle of the night because he's really drunk and still got a bottle of vodka to burn through probably needs to go to jail to sleep it off if nothing else. But, it takes a special kind of bravery to sic dogs on a drunk guy who you have out numbered, and then tase him when he doesn't immediately jump to your beck and call.
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