A University of Texas-Austin professor not only lost his job but is now facing a criminal charge after being arrested for his alleged involvement in an anti-Israel protest on campus earlier this month.
FOX 7 in Austin reported that Richard Heyman, 57, had worked at the University of Texas for nearly 18 years. His most recent position at the school was that of teacher.
According to the university's website, Heyman has taught courses in subjects such as urban studies and contemporary cultural geography, and his interests include urban geography, critical theory and Marxism.
Heyman was arrested after the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) charged him with interfering with public duties during a pro-Palestinian protest on the Austin, Texas, campus on May 2.
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Former University of Texas at Austin professor Richard Heyman was arrested after an incident during a protest on campus on May 2, 2024. (Travis County)
Gerry Morris, an attorney representing Heyman, told the station that his client was fired and added that the university should have investigated what happened before taking any action.
Morris did not respond to questions from Fox News Digital about the matter.
“This incident was caught on video by a bystander, and the bystander contacted us and gave us the video, and it shows a little bit of a different scenario than what was stated in the arrest affidavit,” Morris told FOX 7.
Texas DPS claimed in the affidavit that Heyman yelled profanities in their faces, which Morris did not dispute.
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Texas state soldiers stand guard during pro-Palestinian protests against the Israeli attack on Gaza in response to the October 7 Hamas attack on the University of Texas in Austin, Texas, on April 29, 2024. (Photo by SUZANNE CORDEIRO/AFP via Getty Images))
Even though his client yelled at police, Morris accused police of initiating physical contact with Heyman.
The affidavit suggests Heyman attempted to cross a barrier made of bicycles and set up by police. Heyman allegedly put his fingers in a police officer's face before acting as if he was going to throw a water bottle at the police officer.
Police also accused Heyman of grabbing one of the bikes and trying to pull it away from the fence, although he broke the bike's bell in the process.
Morris told the station his client was pushed and stumbled backwards. As he fell, Heyman grabbed the handlebars of the bicycle, the attorney said.
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Protesters gather on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin, Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Austin. Students walked out of classes Wednesday as protests over Gaza continue to sweep college campuses across the country. (Jon Shapley/Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
Heyman was not arrested until days later, which Morris said he did not believe would have happened if not for political pressure on police.
“There is so much political pressure on them, that if they hadn't taken some action, I'm sure the governor's office would have issued statements criticizing them and other state officials,” Morris said. “If this case didn't have the political implications that it has, if it weren't something that happened in the middle of a politically charged environment, I don't think it would continue another day. It will simply depend on whether the decision maker has the courage to look at the facts and judge the case based on those facts.
The University of Texas did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.
Court records show Heyman was charged with interfering with public duties, a misdemeanor in the state of Texas.
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An arrest warrant was issued for him on May 6, and two days later he appeared before a judge who set his bail at $1,000. Heyman later posted bail and was released.
Heyman is due back in court on May 29.
