U. of Texas students protest law allowing guns in classrooms

A federal judge on Monday August 21 refused to grant an injunction against a recently enacted law that will allow students in Texas to carry concealed handguns even into class.

In response, Texas alumnus, Jessica Jin, has organized a protest using the slogan "Cocks not Glocks". Organizers have already collected over 4,000 dildos from sponsors. These will be handed out to students who will attach them to their backpacks. Jin said: “It offers a visual representation of what it would look like if the gun lobby really got what it wanted, which is the complete normalization of gun culture.” The University of Texas handbook warns about obscene displays: "No person or organization will distribute or display on the campus any writing or visual image, or engage in any public performance, that is obscene. A writing, image, or performance is 'obscene' if it is obscene as defined in Texas Penal Code, Section 43.21 or successor provisions, and is within the constitutional definition of obscenity as set forth in decisions of the United States Supreme Court." The organizers also held an event where they handed out 500 large fake penises. The Facebook page of the group says: “You're carrying a gun to class? Yeah well I'm carrying a HUGE DILDO.”

Three professors had asked for an injunction against the law claiming that the wording was too vague, violated freedoms, and endangered people in the classrooms. U.S. District Judge Lee Yeakel disagreed and said in part: "Their First Amendment claim is and must be bottomed on their right to speak and teach freely. Neither the Campus Carry Law nor the Campus Carry Policy forbids them from doing so. " Yeakel also said that neither the Texas legislature nor the Board of Regents has gone beyond their legitimate power in deciding where a licenced individual can carry a concealed weapon in an academic setting.

The attorney for the three professors says that they are gathering evidence for an upcoming trial in which the group argues that the new law violates their First Amendment right to academic freedom because their classroom management could be influenced by fear of violent student retaliation. Private universities are allowed to opt out of the law and all but one have done so.

Last year a University of Texas group published a report making recommendations that would reconcile the law with campus safety. All members of the working group thought it best that guns were not allowed in classrooms. Nevertheless they did not recommend excluding classrooms from the law as it would be difficult and perhaps expensive to have students check their weapons before attending classes.

Ken Paxton, Texas attorney-general filed a motion to dismiss the professors' suit, and he warned that the three could face disciplinary measures if they interfere with the law. He also pointed out that a ban on firearms in dormitories would violate the law. He said he was pleased that the injunction was denied and was not surprised: "There is simply no legal justification to deny licensed, law-abiding citizens on campus the same measure of personal protection they are entitled to elsewhere in Texas. The right to keep and bear arms is guaranteed for all Americans, including college students, and I will always stand ready to protect that right."

On Facebook, rival, pro-gun group, Open Carry Texas has 50 responses for their counter protest compared to the 10,000 for the "The Cocks not Glocks".

Michael Moore supports Quebec protests

This is the 27th consecutive night of protests in Montreal. Protests have surged if anything since a draconian new bill was passed by the Liberal Quebec government of Jean Charest. The bill has infuriated students who have for months been protesting planned tuition increases and have boycotted classes.

However, the new bill is opposed by a much wider group including unions, lawyers, and civil rights advocates. Another municipal bylaw has been passed in Montreal making it an offense to wear masks at demonstrations.

There was a large demonstration on Sunday night with about 5,000 people. They chanted:"Devrait pas nous fâcher," (You shouldn't get us mad.)Demonstrators also gathered earlier at the University of Quebec in Montreal and headed downtown. The police declared the demonstration illegal under the terms of the newly passed laws which requires giving police notice of the event 8 hours before the demonstration and the route to be taken and at what time. Protesters reject such restrictions.

. Two journalists were arrested. One was wearing a ski mask to protect against chemical irritants.and suffered minor injuries. Both were released within half an hour.

The largest and most radical of the Quebec student groups CLASSE had hoped to broaden the movement beyond just student issues. The passage of the bill restricting protests seems to have done that. Several major Quebec labor unions as well as environmental and political groups oppose the new bill and have thrown support behind the protesters.

Michael Moore documentary film maker calls the Quebec student movement amazing. On Sunday he tweeted: "Canadians are in revolt in Quebec over new gov't law limiting democratic rights. No news of it in US press. Their uprising is inspiring #ggi." The most popular hashtag of the protest is #ggi (greve generale illimite (general unlimited strike)) The protests are primarily but not exclusively at Francophone institutions hence many of the protest signs are in French. The Quebec government website has been subject to cyber attacks. Student claim that about 150,000 college and university students are still on strike i.e. boycotting classes. For more see this article.

Montreal protests against tuition hikes turn violent

Hundreds of students protested outside the Palais des Congres. The Quebec Liberal premier Jean Charest was speaking at a symposium on northern development.

Charest's keynote address was delayed when protesters accessed the building and confronted police guarding the meeting. There were injuries to two protesters and two officers and 10 arrests.

Protests have been ongoing for some time sometimes accompanied by violence. Ministers in the government have been threatened. Police used batons, chemical irritants to push students back but eventually resorted to tear gas and concussion grenades.

Demonstrations have been ongoing almost daily. Students have been boycotting classes for almost two months now. Over the next five years the government intends to raise fees by 1625 dollars. Fees in Quebec are at present the lowest in Canada. However, compared to some European countries such as Finland where university education is free they are still high. For more see this article.