BROCKPORT, N.Y. — A virtual SUNY Brockport speech that has been a source of controversy took place Wednesday evening and drew strong reactions from both students and community members.

Jalil Muntaqim, previously known as Anthony Bottom, was one of three men convicted of killing New York City Patrolman Joseph Piagentini and Patrolman Waverly Jones in 1971. He served nearly 50 years in prison in connection with the killings before being released in 2020.

Muntaqim was invited to speak by a professor at the college. The invitation drew plenty of protests, backlash and even outrage from one of the slain officer's widows.

It was a tale of two sides along Holley Street on the SUNY Brockport campus Wednesday.

Charles Zona is a former police officer. He and others protested the school inviting Muntaqim to speak to students. He said it gave a platform to a man who shouldn’t have one.

“We believe allowing this man to speak is extremely disrespectful to the men and women in blue, our community as a whole and not to mention the officers' families,” Zona said.

Across the street, SUNY Brockport students gathered and shared their opinions.

“People who are not directly affected by this are protesting,” student Jaiviana Jones said. “Students are affected by this. It’s a big commotion and it’s being taken out of hand.”

Jones says she wanted to hear what Muntaqim had to say before judging him.

“I think it’s a different perspective [and] a perspective we don’t hear very often,” Jones said. “If people support law and order, the man did his time. He did over 40 years.”

Other students felt like the presence of the other protesters was causing more disruptions than the actual speech.

SUNY Brockport moved classes and some sporting events scheduled Wednesday evening out of concern that protests may have broken out over Muntaqim speaking. 

Overall, the protests remained peaceful.

It ended with students listening to Muntaqim’s speech over a loudspeaker. 

Last month, SUNY Brockport said it does not support Muntaqim’s views or actions, but does believe in freedom of speech, saying in part:

"We do not support the violence exhibited in Mr. Muntaqim’s previous crimes, and his presence on campus does not imply endorsement of his views or past actions. However, we believe in freedom of speech.

SUNY Brockport has routinely held speaking events involving controversial speakers from various backgrounds and viewpoints and will continue to do so. These conversations are uncomfortable. They are meant to be. They're about gaining a new perspective."