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.