Site icon JONATHAN TURLEY

“A Privilege To Teach Future Dead Cops”: John Jay Professor Placed On Leave After Disturbing Tweet

jonathanturley

Mike_Isaacson_Fox_News_c16-0-640-364_s885x516-1John Jay College has placed adjunct professor Michael Issacson on leave after a rather shocking tweet that “Some of y’all might think it sucks being an anti-fascist teacher at John Jay College but I think it’s a privilege to teach future dead cops.”  Issacson is a known supporter and activist with Antifa, an organization that I have previously criticized.  His tweet led to a national outcry, though we have been debating this issue of professors and teachers exercising free speech outside of their academic settings.  In this case however Issacson was referring directly to his employer and his teaching position.  The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is part of the City University of New York.

 

Issacson drew national attention with an appearance on Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” show.   When the New York Daily News contacted Issacson, he was dismissive of the concerns: “Oh, that shit? Everybody dies.”  He added:

“I was talking about police as an agent of control that is actually in less control of the public than it’s supposed to be. I don’t have a problem with individual police officers – I mean, I teach them – but I don’t like policing as an institution. Police officers are agents of that institution.”

Issacson has appeared on a couple of Fox shows and admitted that he is a leader of Smash Racism DC, an organization accused of fostering violence.  He identifies himself as an anarcho-communist and spews the same low-grade and jingoistic platitudes common to the Antifa movement.  Issacson insists that the anti-speech activities of the Antifa are “self-defense.”  He does touch on his teaching in this interview:

 

He does not that he has taught “alt-right” students and has not discriminated against them.  There is no allegation that he has been biased in his classroom.

However, in a statement on the controversy John Jay College’s president, Karol V. Mason has stated

“Today, members of the John Jay faculty received threats, and our students expressed concerns for their safety in the classroom. Out of concern for the safety of our students, faculty and staff, we are immediately placing the adjunct on administrative leave as we continue to review this matter.”

 I am not sure that I concur in that rationale. It is one thing for the school to review Issacson’s status in light of his references to the school and his students.  It is entirely a different matter to say that the school will put an academic on leave when his views generate opposition in the public.  That is allowing the mob to control curriculum and faculty — precisely what Antifa has been accused of fostering.
Nevertheless, Issacson has acknowledged that he did put his school at risk:
“My biggest regret is putting my students and the John Jay faculty and staff at risk. That was not a risk that they assumed voluntarily, and that very much contravenes my political convictions. I deeply apologize to the John Jay community for making them the target of death threats and harassment.”
In another interview, Issacson expresses concern over his co-workers and insists that he wants help his students.  He does indicate that he does not want his students to become police officers but does support their becoming fire fighters.

The issue of academic freedom looms large in such controversies.  As we have previously discussed (including the recent controversies involving an Oregon professor and a Drexel professor), there remains an uncertain line in what language is protected for teachers in their private lives. The incident also raises what some faculty have complained is a double or at least uncertain standard. We have previously discussed controversies at the University of California and Boston University, where there have been criticism of a double standard, even in the face of criminal conduct. There were also such incident at the University of London involving Bahar Mustafa as well as one involving a University of Pennsylvania professor.

There remains an undefined line of what academics are allowed to say on social media or public forums.  The danger is that schools will engage in content-based discrimination or, even worse, use public reactions to determine what is permissible or not permissible. What makes the Issacson case a bit different is his reference to his students and classes including not just the “dead cop” comments but not wanting students to become police officers (which is a large portion of students at the college).

 

Exit mobile version