Sheriff David Clarke is an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump and critic of the Black Lives Matter movement. This summer, the University of New Haven in Connecticut invited him to speak this fall, but the invitation was recently rescinded.Clarke wrote about the situation at Patheos:
The University of New Haven Disinvited Me to Speak on FORENSICS, because of #BlackLivesMatterThe cult-like demands of #BlackLivesMatter have extended all the way into the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences. This program, established by Dr. Henry C. Lee of University of New Haven, is one of the foremost academic forensic programs in the world. (He’s worked on the JonBenét Ramsey case, the O.J. Simpson and Laci Peterson cases, the post-9/11 investigations, and has reinvestigated the assassination of John F. Kennedy.) I was honored to have been invited to speak this month at their 25 th Annual Markle Symposium October 24 and 25 2016.On June 24, 2016, Mark Solomon forwarded a kind request from Senior Lecturer Patrick Malloy. (I’d met Mark when I spoke at the International Association of Financial Crime Investigators-Connecticut Chapter, Spotlight on Fraud IV Training Conference.) Malloy had taken some students to hear me speak and was so impressed that I got this invitation:
This year the Lee Institute is stepping over the traditional boundary of forensic science and criminal investigations, into the opaque world of the “forensics” of financial and cybercrime. This year’s Symposium highlights the vision and mission through mixed panel discussions of current issues in financial and cybercrime, the impact of these crimes on society, and to change the misconception that these are ‘victimless’ crimes. Through sponsorships, the Lee Institute has traditionally kept tuition for the Symposium very low, and has allowed students to attend at a minimal fee.We would like to invite Sheriff David Clarke to be our keynote speaker this year. A dinner can be arranged the night before (Sunday October 23 rd) with Dr. Henry Lee and select guests. All fees and expenses will be covered. Please let me know if you need additional information. Thank you in advance for your assistance.RegardsPatrick Malloy DBA, Senior Lecturer – Investigations – Director MS InvestigationsHenry C Lee College of Criminal Justice & Forensic Science
On August 3, my assistant had a conversation with Mr. Malloy, who was extremely apologetic and embarrassed to have to rescind the offer. Apparently, the higher-ups did not want me to speak on campus due to my remarks about #BlackLivesMatter.
What did I say that was so controversial? I’m not sure what specific remarks drove them to uninvite me, but anyone who listens to me for five seconds knows I prefer to drop the “v” and call them #BlackLIESMatter. They terrorize the police, lie about their true mission, promote anarchy like the old Black Liberation Army, and released a list of “demands” that included releasing known cop killers.
This is the statement the University of New Haven released on Facebook:
The University is aware that some people, including current students and alumni, are upset that Sheriff David Clarke’s invitation to speak at the Markle Symposium was rescinded. As an institution of higher learning, we fully support free speech and value the marketplace of ideas. Unfortunately, circumstances did not permit Sheriff Clarke’s attendance at this year’s symposium, and we respect the resulting divergent reactions among the University community.
Clarke responded on Twitter:
The school’s newspaper, The Charger Bulletin has also covered the story:
Sheriff David Clarke Denied Opportunity to Speak At UNHIn a recent OpEd on Patheos website, Sheriff David A. Clark Jr. went off on the University of New Haven, based on claims that he was originally asked to speak at UNH during an event for the Henry C Lee Institute of Forensic Science, but was then told his invitation had been rescinded, due to comments he made against the Black Live Matter movement. Clarke, an outspoken conservative, posted this article on October 5th, with it soon being shared on social media multiple times…There has already been a petition started to get President Kaplan to invite Clarke to campus and apologize. The petition can be found here: UNH: Bring Sheriff David Clarke, Jr. to UNH and apologizeThe petition currently has over 2,200 signatures, with a goal of reaching 2,500.Clarke claimed that UNH professor Patrick Malloy was his main contact, and was the one who told him he was no longer able to speak.Students have been reaching out against the University’s decision to take back their invitation to Sheriff Clarke. Aside from the petition, students have been expressing disdain across social media.
The student petition can be seen here.
Featured image via YouTube.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY