Posted on 05/04/2005 7:33:16 AM PDT by Flightdeck
Arrest made at Coulter speech
Student arrested, charged with disorderly conduct after offensive question
By Yashoda Sampath
Incessant heckling and shouting culminated in an arrest Tuesday night during a speech by Ann Coulter, an extreme right-wing pundit, at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum.
Shouts became so pervasive during the question-and-answer session that Coulter informed the organizers she would no longer take questions if the hecklers were not silenced. For a time, the shouts were considerably lessened, until the issue of gay marriage was broached.
Coulter said she supported the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman on the basis that a good woman civilizes and inspires a man to strive for something better, leading to a question that was met with a stunned silence.
"You say that you believe in the sanctity of marriage," said Ajai Raj, an English sophomore. "How do you feel about marriages where the man does nothing but f--- his wife up the ass?"
UT Police officers approached Raj to arrest him, resulting in a mass exodus of protesters chanting, "Let him go."
"The person had been disruptive the entire event," said Matt Hardigree, former Student Events Center president. "He took the opportunity to say something lewd and offensive and then made masturbatory gestures as he exited."
Hardigree said that Cheryl Wood from the Office of the Dean of Students spoke with some of the protestors before the event, and assorted members of the Distinguished Speakers Committee asked them to sit in the back if they had signs and to leave quietly if they wanted to leave.
According to Jeffrey Stockerwell, a friend of Raj, officers violently seized Raj and illegally searched him after his question.
Police have charged Raj with disorderly conduct, a Class C misdemeanor.
Representatives of the Austin People's Legal Collective were taking statements from everyone at the scene, in case it should be taken to court.
Raj worked at the Texan on a volunteer basis for a brief time in March.
Before the speech began, the International Socialist Organization protested outside of the library, with about 12 people holding up signs with slogans such as "Racist, sexist, anti-gay, right-wing bigot go away" and "Stop the new McCarthyism."
The booing began early into Coulter's speech, when she issued a joke to pro-choice advocates.
"I wonder why those 'I Heart Partial-Birth Abortion' T-shirts aren't selling better," she said, followed by a combination of cheers and jeers.
Coulter went on to decry the conservative media bias she said liberals complain of, and she challenged the undemocratic actions of liberals with respect to Iraq and to the judiciary.
"They're always trying to act like they're oppressed," she said. "So let's do it. Let's oppress them."
One student asked Coulter why universities and institutions place microphones in front of Coulter when she advocates terrorism against liberals, prompting Coulter to mention the strength of her book sales. Coulter has had four New York Times best sellers.
The $30,000 event was co-sponsored by the Texas Union Student Events Center and Student Endowed Centennial Lectureship Committee.
Ann coulter shoud be surrounded by 10 Large Men with baseball bats, and another 10 walking the isles.
then I'll bet there wont be any Heckling.
Hmmm...does that tell you a little somethin' about this University of Texas publication?
"Coulter said she supported the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman..."
Why is that considered "extreme right wing" punditry?
Is this not the definition of a gay marriage? I mean someone is the wife are they not?
But in all seriousness, yet another example of the intellectual level of the left's talking points.
"Extreme right-wing"?
Has anybody ever seen the media call, say, Al Franken, "extreme left-wing"?
Beth, I had a chance to go to this last night, but took care of my wife instead. Here is an email from one of my neighbors who attended this event.
"I wish you had been at UT last night. Ann was dependably good and funny, BUT the protestors and wierdos were the best. They were off the wall. The flipped her off, the screamed, they cursed, they had to be escorted out....it was amazing."
Darn! This must have flown right past me--I had no idea she was in town, or I would certainly have tried to get there--and the H.O.T. chapter of FR would certainly have given her a warm welcome among all those protestors outside!
"How do you feel about marriages where the man does nothing but f--- his wife up the ass?"
Well, we're trying to make those illegal but the Democrats think they're great.
Is UT still in Texas? Oh that's right, Austin has become the Berkeley of the Southwest.
Once again, they contribute to Ann's popularity. Bwahaahaa!
"How do you feel about marriages where the man does nothing but f--- his wife up the ass?"
Yep, sounds like they've got some reeeeeel class going to UT...
My my. Ann has such mature enemies.
Nope. Of course, we're probably just your typical, oppressive, male dominated, white, right-wing religious extremists, unfairly labeling the left. ;-)
Extreme right-wing pundit? how the heck would they describe Ward Churchill? Or Seymour Hersh?
"Hmmm...does that tell you a little somethin' about this University of Texas publication?"
Before the election they came out and endorsed a straight ticket of democrats. About twelve races in all from city council up through president. With professors like Robert Jensen ("we deserved 9-11") teaching them, it's not surprising.
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