Don't Tase Me, Man!

News & Analysis
In the News Gristmill Blog Muckraker Podcast Features

Columns
Ask Umbra Victual Reality Weekly Recipes The Bottom Line From A to Green The Grist List

Support nonprofit, independent environmental journalism.
Donate to Grist.

ADVERTISING POLICY

[Advanced]

Tools: print | email | write to the editor | subscribe | RSS

Protesters arrested outside N.C. coal plant

Posted at 10:52 AM on 01 Apr 2008

Eight protesters were Tased and arrested after locking themselves to bulldozers at a Duke Energy coal plant in North Carolina Tuesday morning. Activists say the plant under construction is, in short, a terrible idea. "In the face of catastrophic climate change, building a new coal plant is tantamount to signing a death sentence for our generation," said one protester. Umbrella group Rising Tide organized the protest, as well as other direct action in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom for "Fossil Fools Day."

sources: Reuters, The Charlotte Observer, Asheville Citizen-Times

ADVERTISING POLICY

< Previous | Next >

Comments: (7 comments)

You are not logged in. Thus, you cannot post a comment. If you have a Gristmill account, log in below. If you don't have a Gristmill account, well, by all means go make one! Meet you back here in five.

Protestors tased and confused

"Protestors were tased and arrested outside of a NC coal plant while chained to bulldozers."
I look at this story and wonder, "There must be more to this". Why would people chained down to bulldozers need to be tazed?
I thought that tazing was strictly for officers' safety so that no-one would get hurt.
If someone is self-subdued, why would they need to be ....subdued?
Were they yelling at the officers?
Did they shout the "N" word? (Neo-Cons!)
This story needs to have a lot more info.

by RevTelkal at 7:43 PM on 01 Apr 2008

No need for tasers

Rev, I agree with you. They also took their cameras, as well, which I don't think is legal, either. It's a shame that Duke Energy and Rutherford County (along with the state of NC) are in bed together.

www.StopCliffside.org

Charlotte, NC Fossil Fools Day
Sat. April 5th
Freedom Park
11AM-1:30PM

by johnavery237 at 8:08 PM on 01 Apr 2008

Why?

They forgot, the correct phrase is "Don't tase me, bro!" That establishes an empathetic link with the taser operator.

Whoops I guess it didn't work for that infamous tased and confused dude. Nevermind.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

by amazingdrx at 8:17 PM on 01 Apr 2008

happens all the time

Remember the story of the ecoprotesters trying to defend redwoods in California who had pepper spray methodically applied to their eyes with Q-tips, while handcuffed, by police, who filmed this operation themselves?
Cops tasing already-cuffed victims is an old story. They can get away with this little surge of sadism, that's all. And perhaps it was also spurred by the uncomfortable truth of what the quoted protester was saying--this isn't just another thing people disagree about, this project is a threat to the younger generation's survival. Those who don't want to face up to the implications--i.e., we're going to have to drastically change our way of life and soon--get very angry with this message.

by mwildfire at 5:23 AM on 02 Apr 2008

fascism

Gee, I would have thought that everyone would see this incident as what it is: just another expression of the continuing devolution of American republican democracy into authoritarian fascism. I suppose that most people aren't aware that these types of attacks(yes, I called them attacks: they are assaults on the citizenry by armed representatives of the Company, i.e., police) are quite common. For those who contend that the peoples constabulary doesn't beat the crap out of or Taze citizens of a republican democracy, well, you have hit on precisely the point I am trying to make. To wit: We are looking at the dissolusion of our representative form of government into one which cedes ever more of our rights, and the powers engendered in the Constitution, to the Corporation. If you can't see this, well, the plain and simple fact is you're either blind to it, or you refuse to admit that what your seeing is true. Call me a commie, call me a tin-foil hat wearing pinko, call me Ishmael, I don't care. This country is headed toward the abyss, and most people don't care, or they refuse to confront the truth. Our country is being stolen right out from under noses. Congratulations, America, you've got the security you wanted. PATRIOT(I like to call it the Treason Act) Act, I & II, Military Commmissions Act(habeas corpus? goodbye!!!!), the new FISA amendments: all are designed to seperate you from your natural and your Constitutional rights.

The mellotron is your friend.

by archigeek at 7:40 AM on 02 Apr 2008

Tasers

Are being used as portable torture devices. Instead of an alternative to lethal force. Think about it, wasn't this the intended use for the taser all along?

Torture suspects out on the street before you get to the jail, where witnesses and cameras tend to tone down the torture somewhat.

After all, torture is now official US government policy, after the great bushwacking of america.

http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog John Schneider, Northern Wisconsin

by amazingdrx at 8:15 AM on 02 Apr 2008

Fossil Foolery

The use of tasers on these protesters is completely illegal and constitutes torture. But given the current admins position on torture, should I be surprised? I hope the further investigation leads to the arrest of the police who committed this act.

Come to Charlotte this Saturday, March 5! Freedom Park at 11am!

Stop Cliffside!!

by mountaingirl at 7:26 PM on 02 Apr 2008

The comments of Grist users reflect the opinions of those individuals only, and do not necessarily reflect the viewpoints of Grist, its staff, its board members, their psychotherapists, or their aestheticians. Got it?