Mesha Monge-Irizarry, who is the Director of the Idriss Stelley Foundation and the mother of Idriss Stelley, who was killed by San Francisco police, reports about her experience with a taser:

"Last year, I received a call from Arizona company 'Taser International,' seemingly referred through (an) unknown source to do a 'demo at ISF (Idriss Stelley Foundation).' Although it gave me a good laugh, since SF was looking into making a $1.2 million purchase for its PD department, I invited them, as well as Malaika Parker from Bay Area Police Watch.

"The 'Men in Black' as they call(ed) themselves... proceeded to a full demonstration. I told Sandra-Juanita Cooper (former CO-director of ISF) and Malaika that one of us should be tased to know exactly what we would be talking about when reporting back to the community. Neither one of them was willing to be subjected to it, so I volunteered.

"... Imagine 54,000 (volts) going through your body. Although 2 of their legitimized thugs were holding me, when a 3rd one tased me throughout the right thigh, I collapsed in unbelievable pain that truly "shocked" me...and collapsed on the floor unable to move. The pain disappeared after about 10 seconds, and muscle control was then regained... (However,) my right leg kept twitching off and on for a couple of days, slight bleeding and bruising, and a substantial increase of my diabetic peripheral neuropathy in the right leg, (which) has not improved ever since. These idiots told me 'You have balls for a woman,' as they left...I was at the time thinking of the victims repeatedly tased to unconsciousness or death. Fortunately the Taser budget was not approved in SF, until next time." Read more of Mesha's report

Through her work with the Idriss Stelley Foundation, Mesha Monge-Irizarry continues to organize for justice for family members of people who have died at the hands of law enforcement. She is working on the cases of Everardo "Lalo" Torres, Gustavus Rugley, Samuel Martinez, and Julio Ayala. Last year she attended the Citizens' Police Academy training.