To serve and protect. Burke has become known on campus for his almost daily reading of Shakespeare plays in front of the Brown Bookstore. But the bard performs no longer. According to many witnesses, however, he was not causing any such problems. According to Damaris Castillo-Lopes of BUPS, the police were concerned that the crowd was causing a public safety concern.
Witnesses say that there was no reasonable basis for such a concern.
According to police, Burke was swinging his arms in a violent manner. Witnesses say that he was doing no such thing. While all the facts may not be fully clear, the force used by the police does seem, at least on the face of it, unnecessary. Yes, Burke was resisting arrest. These questions remain unanswered at present.