Two dozen supporters of a fired University of Nevada, Reno professor lined Virginia Street at the southwest corner of the campus Saturday morning to protest his dismissal and what they believe his plight represents.

“If they’re free to fire whistle blowers with impunity then that chills the First Amendment right of speech in people who are in a position to know about abuse that is occurring behind closed doors,” said Fran Aperones, a paralegal who held a sign supporting associate professor Hussein S. Hussein toward passing motorists.

The Associated Press reported this week that Hussein, a former UNR associate professor and renowned animal nutritionist, has sued the university after he was fired from his job on April 11 by university President Milton Glick. The firing came after a disciplinary hearing based on claims that Hussein plagiarized his graduate students’ work and misrepresented money given to support his research to improve his laboratory instead of sharing it with the university to pay for overhead costs.

Hussein’s lawsuit, according to the AP, claims he was fired in retaliation for publicizing animal abuse at campus research farms. The suit seeks to have Hussein reinstated in his job and $98,000 in back pay with benefits.

Protesters came out Saturday in support of Hussein’s claims.

Heather Singer, a 1996 graduate of UNR, said she has been following Hussein’s case since 2005, when his complaints sparked a federal investigation into UNR’s animal farm and labs. The investigation resulted in the U.S. Department of Agriculture citing the university for 46 violations of federal animal welfare regulations from May 2004 to March 2005. The violations included repeatedly leaving research pigs without adequate water and housing, frequent poor sanitation and lack of veterinary care. The school agreed to pay an $11,400 fine.

Singer, a self-described animal rights activist, described Hussein as a “kind and compassionate human being who is being punished for his kindness and bravery.”

“Mainly we want Hussein to have his job back,” Singer said of the goal of the two-dozen or so protesters. “We also want UNR to be open about animal research so the public can make sure no harm is being done to the animals.”

Geraldine Rueger, a local business owner and member of the group Reno Outreach for Animal Rights (ROAR), said the group has had to rely on the Freedom of Information Act and whistle blowers to get information about how animals are treated.

“Why do we have to go through whistle blowers and things like that,” Rueger said. “If they have nothing to hide why not allow unannounced, independent inspectors?”

Rueger said she and other ROAR members would like to see an outside committee formed that will have independent, unannounced access to UNR animal labs for inspection. She said such a committee was proposed in Assembly Bill 523 from the 2005 Legislative session. AB 523 would have “authorize(d) local boards of health to investigate complaints concerning agricultural programs of University and Community College System of Nevada.” The bill died in the State Senate after being approved by the Assembly.

Hussein’s lawyer suggested he not attend Saturday’s rally, according to Hussein’s wife, Jane, who was there. She said her husband wanted to be there to thank people for supporting him. Jane said she and her husband hope to have a ruling within the week about whether or not Hussein will be reinstated at the university while his lawsuit works through the courts.

“The university will vigorously resist any legal action that would reverse Dr. Hussein’s termination,” John Albrecht, a lawyer for the Nevada System of Higher Education representing UNR and Glick, told the AP on Wednesday.

The AP also reported that Glick’s termination letter said he had concluded Hussein was dishonest and guilty of incompetence or inefficiency in performing his duties as well as professional conduct, which was harmful or adverse to the efficiency of his administrative unit.