A select month-by-month recap of stories about our community reported here and elsewhere in 2017. JANUARY Jeffrey James is Fiesta Cornyation’s King Anchovy LII The board of directors of Fiesta Cornyation, billed as “the raunchiest, cheapest event of Fiesta,” announced in January that this year’s King Anchovy LII was Jeffrey James, the proprietor of James…
Anti-Cyberbullying Activists Wanted a Texas Law With “Teeth.” They May Have Gotten One.
By Kirby Wilson, The Texas Tribune Just months after her son David took his own life, Maurine Molak began to organize. She and her husband, Matt, who live in San Antonio, founded David’s Legacy Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to cyberbullying victim advocacy. Maurine said they met with lawmakers, law enforcement officials, district attorneys, school administrators,…
Students and SA City Leaders Take Anti-Bullying Pledge
San Antonio City leaders, along with scores of local teens, stood on the steps of City Hall on August 16 and took a pledge against cyberbullying. Among those present at Wednesday’s press conference were San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg, State Sen. José Menéndez, Police Chief William McManus, City Councilwoman Ana Sandoval and City Councilman Clayton…
David’s Law Ready for Governor’s Signature
A law aimed at preventing and combating cyber-bullying is headed to Texas Governor Greg Abbot’s desk after receiving a majority of votes in the House of Representatives and an unanimous vote in the Texas Senate. The new measure, Senate Bill 179, is dubbed David’s Law after David Molak, a 16-year-old Alamo Heights High School student…
Texas Senate Passes Anti-Bullying Bill Named for SA Student
The Texas Senate unanimously approved Senate Bill 179, legislation that cracks down on bullying in the state’s public schools. SB 179 was introduced in the Senate by State Senator Jose Menendez. In January, Menendez called for the passage of the bill saying, “Cyberbullying is a crisis in Texas and across the nation. Families need our…
Could an Anti-Cyberbullying Bill Do More Harm Than Good For Texas Kids?
Originally published in the San Antonio Current In December, a pair of San Antonio state lawmakers filed a bill to address what seems to be a universally agreed-upon menace: Cyberbullying. In particular, aggressive cyberbullying across social media platforms by school-aged kids — the kind that can push kids to commit suicide. But with its focus…
Calls to Pass Cyberbullying Law on Anniversary of Student’s Death
Two San Antonio lawmakers are calling for the passage of an anti-bullying law named in honor of David Bartlett Molak, a 16-year-old Alamo Heights High School student who one year ago committed suicide after being bullied by classmates on social media over his physical appearance. To mark the first anniversary of Molak’s passing, State Senator…
SA Lawmakers File Anti-Bullying Law
On November 14, State Senator Jose Menendez and State Representative Ina Minjarez will introduce a law aimed at preventing and combating cyber-bullying. The bill is being filed on the first day legislation can be introduced for consideration by the 85th session of the Texas Legislature. The new measure, dubbed David’s Law, is named after David…
State Senator Jose Menendez: Advocate and Ally
On September 24, the Stonewall Democrats of San Antonio honored state Senator Jose Menendez with the Political Advocacy Award, which is given annually to “an elected or appointed official who has made significant contributions toward the advancement of equality for LGBT persons at the local, state or national level.” The award was presented at Stonewall’s…
How Would Texas’ Cyberbullying Law Navigate the Murky Waters of Free Speech?
Originally published in the San Antonio Current Senator José Menéndez will have to bridge a tough line in his proposal to make cyberbullying a crime — one that balances the First Amendment rights of students with his attempt to crack down on online harassment. The proposed legislation is called “David’s Law.” It’s named after 16-year-old…