A college professor found himself in hot water after likening the Black Lives Matter movement to the racism of the Klu Klux Klan.
Douglas Muir, an adjunct professor for the University of Virginia, wrote in a Facebook comment that Black Lives Matter is the “biggest” racist organization since the KKK. The comment was written last week in response to a Facebook post about a Black Lives Matter event in Charlottesville.
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University officials later issued statements denouncing the comments and distancing themselves from Muir. The professor has since taken leave, according to the university.
Charlottesville Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy also took to social media to criticize Muir for his comments and call on people to boycott Muir’s restaurant business in the city.
“The notion that #BlackLivesMatter can be comparable to the Klu Klux Klan is not only incredibly misguided, but goes to show the lack of cultural awareness that still plagues many professors at our Universities across the country,” Bellamy wrote on his Instagram.
Bellamy went on to say that the Black Lives Matter movement is not a terrorist organization, but, rather, a group that aims to “address systemic oppression and racism.”
His Black Lives Matter comment, which has since been deleted, was in reference to an event featuring movement co-founder Alicia Garza as a speaker. The event was held Tuesday at Paramount Theater in Charlottesville.
A local real estate agent who attended the event posted a picture of Garza to his Facebook page and wrote that she is “working for dignity for everyone.”
Muir responded, saying, “Black lives matter is the biggest rasist (sic) organisation (sic) since the clan (sic). Are you kidding me. Disgusting!!!”
Tom Katsouleas, University of Virginia’s executive vice president and provost, said in a statement on Friday that he’s “disturbed and saddened” by Muir’s comments.
Muir is an adjunct lecturer at both the engineering and business schools.