SUNY Brockport set to honor convicted cop killer at event for 'Black resistance' and 'political prisoners'

A New York state college invited a convicted cop-killer to speak about race and justice while describing him as a former "political prisoner" and "loving human being" after his role in the ambush murders of two NYPD officers and another shootout with police in California.

The College at Brockport, State University of New York, is hosting an event titled, "History of Black Resistance, U.S. Political Prisoners & Genocide: A Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim."

Muntaqim, formerly known as Anthony Bottom, was among a group of Black Liberation Army radicals who assassinated two New York City police officers in 1971, Waverly Jones and Joseph A. Piagentini.

This letter is from the son of a retired NYPD officer

Dear President MacPherson and Professor Outland,

I'm writing to you about the decision to invite Jalil Muntaqim aka Anthony Bottom to speak on your campus on April 6, to deliver a talk titled "History of Black Resistance, U.S. Political Prisoners & Genocide: A Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim". I am neither an alumnus of SUNY Brockport or a resident of New York anymore. I'm writing as a former resident of New York City, son of a retired NYPD officer who served during the time your speaker murdered two NYPD officers, and a retired law enforcement officer myself.

I'm quite sure you have received many requests to disinvite Mr. Muntaqim from speaking but I won't be one of those making that suggestion. Whenever I see groups that protest or shout down speakers on campuses I always feel that not attending the event would be a better choice than wanting to shut someone up. Not listening or not paying attention to someone you find distasteful or disagree with is a better course of action than trying to silence them.

I would actually be interested in hearing what this person has to say and wish I could attend and ask a few questions. Maybe you could consider asking a couple of the following questions of him on my behalf during what I'm sure will be a spirited Q&A session?

- How do you justify, to yourself and others, ambushing and murdering two unsuspecting police officers?

- In the time between these murders and when you were finally arrested did you commit other murders?

- Is it true that one of the wounded officers begged for his life and you shot him to death anyway?

- Do you have any remorse for your actions? Have you ever apologized to the families of the men you killed?

- Have you ever thought about the terror you caused for families of NYPD police officers during that time, or was that actually the point?

- Are you interested in killing anyone now? If you disagreed with a policy or governmental action today would you murder police offcers or others to make your point?

President MacPherson and Professor Outland, I have questions for you both as well:

- You have stated that the university has had controversial speakers previously. Have any of them been murderers?

- Why did you initially sugar coat your description of the speaker, neglecting to highlight that he had murdered two police officers?

- Do you value the lives of police officers the same as anyone else? What exactly is the "red line" of conduct by a person that would make you refrain from inviting them to speak at your university? To clarify, if someone had killed university professors 50 years ago and got out on parole would you potentially invite them to your school to share their experiences and interesting story?

- Will you socialize with the speaker prior to the event? Will you sit and make polite conversation with him? Have a meal? Will you have your pictures taken with him and will they be published somewhere in a university website or publication?

- How does this speaker align with SUNY Brockton's stated vision "Building meaningful lives and vibrant communities"? (Note that the murdered officers had meaningful and productive lives and your speaker did not)

- How does this speaker align with SUNY Brockton's stated values "Community, Engagement, Excellence, Transformation" (Note that one of the speakers murder victims begged for his life but was shot to death by your speaker anyway)

Thank you for reading my email and hopefully entertaining my questions.

Ed XXXXX

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