Why Is SUNY Brockport Inviting a Convicted Cop Killer to Speak?

Hat tip Algemeiner

Anthony Bottom

"History of Black Resistance, U.S. Political Prisoners & Genocide: A Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim"

- "Join Jalil Muntaqim for an intellectual conversation on his time with the Black Panthers and serving nearly 50 years as a political prisoner."

"Editors Note: SUNY Brockport does not endorse the characterization of this event."

-From SUNY Brockport website

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I am cross-posting an article in the New York-based Jewish news outlet, Algemeiner, written by Patrick Dunleavy. It concerns the scheduled speaking appearance of convicted cop-killer, Anthony Bottom, aka Jalil Muntaqim, at the State University of New York at Brockport. Bottom was invited by a faculty member.

https://www.algemeiner.com/2022/03/20/antisemitic-cop-killer-to-speak-at-state-university-of-new-york/

Here is more on the matter from Westside News. NY. Much of this article concerns the reaction of retired Brockport police chief Daniel Varrenti, who resigned his position as an adjunct professor at SUNY Brockport over the issue.

https://westsidenewsny.com/news/2022-03-20/controversy-surrounds-planned-suny-brockport-event/

Fousesquawk comment: Dunleavy's article pretty much covers the issue. What I would add is that the president of the university, Heidi Macpherson, has it only half-right when she gives the go-ahead for this speaking event to take place. It appears from the above article that while the university does not endorse the speaker, the event, or whatever he has to say, she is pointing out the right to free speech. 

"They're about gaining a new perspective."

I agree that Bottom has the right to say whatever he wants to say and those who sponsored him and those who want to hear him speak have the right under our law to hear his words. But shame on them.

The question is whether the university has the obligation to provide him with a platform to indoctrinate our students to his "perspective". There are always public parks in which to spout your beliefs.

I note that Bottom has spent some 50 years in prison, and the argument can be made that he has served his time. (Personally, I would prefer he got the death penalty.) If he were to tell his audience that he is deeply sorry for the lives he has taken and encourage the young people in the audience to be law-abiding citizens, I might even sponsor his speech. It appears, however, that this is not what he plans to say. 

I have no previous information on SUNY Brockport, but I assume it is a typical leftist-run university that actually welcomes the likes of Bottom as their preferred speakers.