Two Men Arrested During Dueling Gun Protests at University of Texas

Two men were arrested Wednesday afternoon during dueling protests regarding campus carry at the University of Texas at Austin, a university police officer confirmed to TheBlaze.

A spokeswoman for the UT Police Department told TheBlaze that both men were arrested for criminal trespassing and one man is facing an additional charge of resisting arrest. Neither of the men are UT students, she said.

Two men were arrested Wednesday during dueling protests on recent campus carry legislation at the University of Texas at Austin. Campus police said they were not students. (Image source: Twitter/@myfoxaustin)

Multiple protests on the Austin campus clashed as one group convened to protest recently passed legislation that allows for concealed carry permit holders to carry guns on public college campuses and other groups came out to support the law.

University of Texas at Austin students gathered to show their support for recently passed campus carry legislation. (Image provided to TheBlaze.)

As TheBlaze previously reported, more than 160 professors have signed a petition in opposition to that legislation and have vowed to not allow guns in their classrooms — despite the law stating that only university presidents or chief executive officers have the authority to designate gun-free zones.

Anti-gun professors, parents and students have joined together to create "Gun Free UT" — the rally cry during Wednesday's protest and the name of their organization. According to the group's Facebook page, the protesters were instructed to arrive early to receive t-shirts and avoid "bully gun-freak hecklers."

Other groups organized their own counterprotests in support of campus carry, including a group of conservative UT students. The two men who were arrested were part of the pro-gun camp but were not associated with the conservative students, TheBlaze was told by a student protester. 

Allison Peregory, a student and chairman of the Young Conservatives of Texas — UT Chapter, told TheBlaze prior to the rallies that she would protest in support of campus carry because as a female who has to walk home alone at night, being able to defend herself is "reassuring."

"We wanted to show that there are students at UT that support campus carry and students responsibly practicing self defense," she told TheBlaze Wednesday during the protests.

At least one female anti-gun protester decided to bare her breasts on campus and hold a sign that read, "More boob, fewer guns."

At the University of Texas, a woman protests recently passed Texas legislation that allows for concealed carry holders to carry at public universities. (Image provided to TheBlaze has been edited.)

Students are currently protesting against campus carry outside of West Mall. #UT #KVRNews pic.twitter.com/ZJrue5ClDY

— KVR News (@KVRNews) October 1, 2015

Speaker at campus carry protest says she welcomes countering opinions, as long as they don't ambush @KVRNews pic.twitter.com/ouNL4e9X3s

— Cassandra Jaramillo (@cassandrajar) October 1, 2015

Cell video I got of men being taken away about 20 mins ago. Called UTPD PIO but no answer. Will update asap @KVRNews pic.twitter.com/fW9558NSZY

— Cassandra Jaramillo (@cassandrajar) October 1, 2015

It isn't a normal day at UT with a protest! #GunFreeUT pic.twitter.com/bpy7WR3RPS

— trendy uterus (@TrendyUterus) October 1, 2015