Vol. 71, Issue 4
Est. 1981
Se p te mb e r 2 3 - Se p te mb e r 3 0 , 2 0 2 5
THE PAISANO
Independent Student Newspaper for the University of Texas at San Antonio Community /PaisanoOnline
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Interview with Charlie Kirk vigil detainee John Jackson speaks up regarding his experience about being detained by UTSAPD after vigil By Jasmine Williams Managing Editor
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protester was detained during Charlie Kirk’s vigil held by Turning Point USA at UT San Antonio. Junior political science major John Jackson brought a posterboard containing the death toll of Palestinian civilians in the Israel-Hamas war. According to Jackson, he aimed to express his difference of opinion with the slain political commentator who defended Israel’s actions. He was detained by UT San Antonio police officers while doing so. During an exclusive interview with The Paisano, Jackson shared his experience attending the vigil. “I was promptly antagonized, heckled and, overall, just verbally abused by the crowd,” he said. “There is a lot of, what you would almost call, ‘religious psychosis’ in terms of what Charlie meant to these people. “I do believe that with the mix of political and physical trauma, that ultimately stewed in a very violent reaction to anybody wanting to remind these people of what Charlie actually said more so than the image that the media wants to present him as.” Hundreds of Kirk supporters filled the Sombrilla on Sept 15. Jackson felt that it was either the volume of people or political tensions that led to an altercation resulting in his detainment. He claimed that after being shoved by a woman, another woman in front of him assumed he was the aggressor, which led to a man allegedly assaulting him. UT San Antonio administrators and police officers approached him after. “They said I could stay there — that was by the administrators. And then the police promptly detained me and said I was being cited for three counts of assault/unwanted contact,” Jackson said. “They attempted to ban me for a year, for criminal trespass, until they found out that I was a student. They then said that I had to leave campus. I told them, ‘What if I was living here,’ in which they declined to further comment. “I almost felt entrapped. [Administrators] said I could remain where I was, and I didn’t have to be relegated to some so-called ‘Freedom of Speech Zone,’ and then I was promptly detained by the police, giving me the false illusionment of safety in having the administration behind my back.” Jackson pointed out another potential inconsistency in the actions permitted by
UT San Antonio administration during the vigil. He brought up how at the vigil held in honor of deceased doctoral student Jose Bruno Del Rio-Malewski, open flame candles were not used. However, they were used during Kirk’s vigil. According to UT San Antonio’s Handbook of Operating Procedures, open flames are prohibited unless approved in advance by the UT San Antonio Fire Marshal. “There is very crude administrative irony in the fact that the fire marshal allowed for open-flame candles at this vigil,” Jackson claimed. “It’s very insulting and ultimately demonstrative of what you would almost call ‘political’ or ‘pressured bias’ to submit to the request of TPUSA but not to one of our dear members of our community who unfortunately took their life.” The Paisano was unable to contact the UT San Antonio Fire Marshal for confirmation on whether or not approval was granted for the usage of open flame candles at Rio-Malewski’s or Kirk’s vigils. “There [are] obviously issues with UTSAPD and how administrators are coordinating with their efforts to protect students’ freedom of speech and to overall regulate outsidecampus influence.” Before attending the vigil, Jackson observed on social media what he felt were alarming sentiments held by Kirk supporters regarding the police presence and concealed carry. “Many people that were gladly attending the event to support Kirk and the TPUSA movement were relieved that there was heightened security [so] they wouldn’t have to bring their concealed firearm,” Jackson stated. “But the mere fact that people from outside of the campus think
Miles Jones/The Paisano
John Jackson being escorted away from Kirk’s vigil by UTSAPD officer after alleged protest.
that they should bring their concealed firearms to a campus for students for education is insane to me.” According to UT San Antonio’s campus carry policy, the open carry of firearms on its properties is prohibited. “It’s very worrying that that kind
of demographic is slowly being more encouraged to visit spaces that should, at the very least, offer neutrality in terms of politics but should have zero exceptional policy when it comes to carrying firearms or anything that would harm or intimidate students.”
SA holds Constitution Day Naturalization Ceremony Mayor Jones attends second cemerony since taking office; 50 applicants naturalized By Marisela Cruz News Editor The City of San Antonio hosted a naturalization ceremony on Constitution Day inside the municipal building. Mayor Gina Ortiz Jones was in attendance last Wednesday as the guest speaker alongside Judge Elizabeth Chestney and Acting District Director of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Jesse Mendez. Before beginning the ceremony, the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution presented the colors. Mendez began the ceremony by describing its significance. “Throughout the country, in many of our field offices and other locations where we host ceremonies, thousands of new citizens will be sworn in today,” Mendez said. “We are not only celebrating Citizenship Day but Constitution Day as well. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that those days coincided. It represents how important United States citizens are to the fabric of this country.” Jones then spoke in front of the attendees awaiting to take their oath to become U.S. citizens. As a first-generation American, she explained how her mother migrated from the Philippines, graduating from the number one university. Jones describes her mother coming to America as a demonstration of hard work. “It is my mom’s story and her courage that allowed me to do it all. My mom came to this country, and we were very lucky to have been born here,” Jones said. “I know today you are earning your citizenship, but I also know what this has meant for my own family and what it potentially means for you and for generations of your family. This is a turning point that changes the trajectory of your life and changes the trajectory of your family’s life.” Jones congratulated everyone who was in attendance. Chestney recognized Jennifer Rios, the immigration services officer of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, to call out who was in attendance. There were 50 applicants present from 23 countries on the morning of
Sept. 17; six petitioned for name changes on their respective applications. The court recognized that the attendees’ applications had been accepted by the board, along with any requests for name changes. After Chestney verified if Rios was satisfied with the applicants, Rios read off the various countries that are represented at the ceremony. When the attendees’ country of citizenship was recognized, they were asked to stand and remain standing to receive the oath of Naturalization. “I do, by the authority vested in me as a United States magistrate judge and by your qualifications and the oath you’ve just taken, each of you is now a citizen of the United States of America. Congratulations,” Chestney said.
“We are not only celebrating Citizenship day but Constitution day as well. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that those days coincided...” This would be Jones’ second naturalization ceremony since becoming mayor. Her first naturalization ceremony occurred a day before Independence Day. At the previous ceremony Jones attended, she reflected back on her youth assisting her mother while she studied for her American citizenship test. The ceremony concluded with each applicant receiving their naturalization certificate and taking a photo with the mayor.