andrew meyer

GAINESVILLE, Fla. ― Add this to the lexicon of American democracy: "Don't Tase me, bro. Don't Tase me."

Andrew Meyer, the University of Florida student who tested the limits of free speech during an address by Sen. John Kerry, walked out of jail Tuesday and into cyberspace history, and instant, if likely fleeting, celebrity.

Video clips of his fracas with university police officers flashed around the world, viewed more than 400,000 times. Tens of thousands of people debated the issue on Web sites. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and Amnesty International USA rose to his support.

The degree to which Meyer, 21, was a nuisance or an opportunistic prankster ― and the magnitude of the police response ― stood at the center of the worldwide web of discussion as he left jail, was hugged by his father and drove away in his lawyer's SUV.

Meyer, a senior telecommunications major, has a Web site featuring several homemade videos. In one, he stands in a street with a sign that says "Harry Dies" after the latest Harry Potter book was released. In another, he acts like a drunk in a bar while trying to pick up a man dressed in drag.

UF President J. Bernard Machen described the event as "regretful" and said two officers in the incident were placed on administrative leave pending an investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

As the forum with Kerry was ending Monday, the Massachusetts Democrat agreed to answer a question from Meyer even though the Q&A period was supposed to be over.

Meyer launched into a lengthy series of questions and amounted to this: Why did Kerry concede the 2004 presidential election? Why not impeach President Bush? Was Kerry a member of the same secretive society at Yale University as Bush?

Reminded he was to ask only one question, Meyer said: "He's talked for two hours. I think I can have two minutes."

Meyer's microphone was cut off as six police officers attempted to remove him.

During the fray, Meyer uttered the words that will live forever in the memories of millions of ... computers:

"Don't Tase me, bro. Don't Tase me."



Followed by:

"I didn't do anything. Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow! Ow!"

Kerry, meanwhile, came under criticism from people who thought he should have done more to take control of the situation and cool tensions.

During the encounter, Kerry can be heard saying: "That's all right, let me answer his question." A little later, he offers again to answer Meyer's "very important question."

Material from The Associated Press is included in this report.