Jacobs joins in calling for Brockport to rescind speakership for man convicted of killing 2 police officers

Press Release, Congressman Chris Jacobs

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Jacobs (NY-27) was joined by Representatives Stefanik (NY-21), Malliotakis (NY-11), Garbarino (NY-02), Tenney (NY-22), Zeldin (NY-01), Reed (NY-23), and Katko (NY-24) in calling for SUNY Brockport to rescind its invitation to Jalil Muntaqim (a.k.a. Anthony Bottom) to deliver a speech entitled, “History of Black Resistance, U.S. Political Prisoners & Genocide: A Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim.”

“As members of Congress representing thousands of brave police officers throughout New York State – we find it unsettling that a taxpayer-funded college would believe it is acceptable to give a platform to an individual who was convicted of murdering two law enforcement officers, Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones, in cold blood, especially at a time when violent murders and ambushes of police have skyrocketed in this nation,” the Representatives wrote.

Jalil Muntaqim was convicted of the 1971 murders of NYPD Officers Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones. Muntaqim, along with others, ambushed the patrolmen after they were lured into public housing using a phony 911 call.

“We urge SUNY Brockport to withdraw its invitation to Jalil Muntaqim immediately and to apologize to the families of Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones as well as every law enforcement officer in our state,” the Representatives said.

Full text of the letter sent to Brockport President Heidi Macpherson by the delegation can be found here:

Dear Dr. Macpherson,

We are writing today to express our deep concerns with SUNY Brockport’s recent decision to invite Jalil Muntaqim (Anthony Bottom) to speak on campus. As members of Congress representing thousands of brave police officers throughout New York State – we find it unsettling that a taxpayer funded school would believe it is acceptable to give a platform to an individual who was convicted of murdering two law enforcement officers, Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones, in cold blood, especially at a time when violent murders and ambushes of police have skyrocketed in this nation.

SUNY Brockport’s decision to label this individual a “political prisoner” is not only patently false but an insult to the thousands of actual political prisoners throughout our world who are being unjustly persecuted for their legitimate beliefs – not heinous crimes against law enforcement.

We value our Constitution above all else and the right of every American to free speech. However, this is not a question of censorship, but of the college’s responsibility to accurately represent the background and context of speakers it hosts. Someone who has been convicted of the murder of two police officers should not be given the opportunity to address young adults at a public college under the false pretext that he is a political prisoner.

We urge SUNY Brockport to withdraw its invitation to Jalil Muntaqim immediately and to apologize to the families of Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones as well as every law enforcement officer in our state for failing to properly contextualize his violent criminal past.