Bloomberg Sides With Academic Freedom In Controversial Brooklyn College Event
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Mayor Michael Bloomberg is speaking up for the cause of academic freedom amid controversy over an upcoming event at Brooklyn College.
The BDS Movement, a pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel group which has called for boycotts and sanctions against Israel, was invited to speak at the school's student center on Thursday, Feb. 7.
Bloomberg said Wednesday he ``couldn't disagree more violently'' with their viewpoint.
But he also very strongly agrees with an academic institution's right to sponsor a forum on any topic of its choice.
One city councilman has suggested he'd withhold support for funding for Brooklyn College if the event moves forward.
Bloomberg says politicians shouldn't try to use their purse-string power to micromanage discourse at public institutions.
The college says it will hear other viewpoints in coming weeks. The event is sponsored partly by the political science department.
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