One of Piner’s colleagues in the History Department said the following:
“I think this whole thing is being blown out of proportion. To my knowledge, he hasn’t actually killed any Negroes.”
And, finally, here is what a Kent State spokesperson had to say about Piner:
“Julius Piner was not actually linked to the site, ‘Kill the Negroes,’ nor did he use any university resources when he was not operating it. Furthermore, there is no evidence that he ever advocated killing Negroes in his class lectures. We all have to remember that academic freedom is an important part of university life, even when we disagree with the views being expressed.”
Of course, many disagree with Kent State’s defense of Piner. Some of the most compelling reasons follow:
1. The “Kill the Negroes” site contained essays calling for the cleansing and purification of society via the mass murder of blacks.
2. Piner distributed videos on the website showing the actual lynching of blacks.
3. Piner circulated instructions on how to bomb black churches in the South.
4. Piner circulated a “battle dispatch” to give people specific information on America’s most “notorious” black churches.
If you are as disgusted as I am, I know you will take the time to contact Ron Kirksey. Ron is the University Spokesman for Kent State. He can be reached via phone at 330-672-8535 or via e-mail atrkirksey@kent.edu.
Thanks in advance for those who take the time to help. Together we can make a difference when universities protect hateful professors in the name of free speech. |