Charges Dropped Against Professor Arrested for Swearing

Verbally objecting to an anti-abortion display is not a crime

University at Buffalo—The disorderly conduct charge against Laura Curry, an adjunct media study professor, was dropped on Thursday morning.

Curry appeared in front of Judge Mark Farrell in Amherst Town Court almost a month after she was arrested for using profane language to demonstrate her distaste for a graphic anti-abortion display presented by UB Students for Life and the Center for Bio-Ethical Reform.

The display – which was stationed outside the Student Union from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on April 15 and 16 – showed pictures of dismembered fetuses and compared abortions to genocide, child abuse and hate crimes. Curry, who was arrested the first day of the display, still believes it was profane.