NYPD Widow Continues To Campaign Against SUNY 'Cop Killer' Event

DEER PARK, NY — This week, the Long Island widow of a New York Police Department officer slain in the line of duty in 1971 met with other victims and police advocates to continue to pressure SUNY Brockport to cancel an event featuring the man who killed her husband.

On Sunday, Diane Piagentini gathered with supporters at the Joseph Piangentini Memorial Playground in Deer Park to ask the SUNY college to cancel the controversial April 6 event.

"It's bottom line wrong," Piagentini told CBS News this week.

A host of politicians along with the NYPD PBA have made statements opposing the speech, where convicted double murderer Anthony Bottom is scheduled to give a talk called the"History of Black Resistance, U.S. Political Prisoners & Genocide: A Conversation with Jalil Muntaqim."

Muntaqim, previously known as Anthony Bottom, was convicted of killing officers Joseph Piagentini and Waverly Jones in 1971 and spent almost 50 years in prison.

SUNY Brockport has since created an "information and resources" page with updates and official statements from the college about the event. The latest update, on March 23, explains that the event has moved from an in-person to a virtual talk.

"The safety and security of our community is always our top priority. To help mitigate any potential security concerns around the Jalil Muntaqim event, we are engaging with key partners to build a plan that prioritizes the safety of our students, faculty, staff and campus guests," the statement reads.

"With that goal in mind, we have decided to move this event to a virtual format. Details for the virtual program will be shared when they are finalized."

An online petition "Demand SUNY Brockport to Rescind their Invitation to Cop Assassin!" has received over 2,000 signatures.

Pat Lynch from the NYC PBA spoke on March 28, saying that the talk becoming virtual didn't negate their concerns.

SUNY Brockport posted answers to "frequently asked questions' on the resources page, and the answer to why the event is not canceled reads:

"Academic Freedom gives faculty a great deal of autonomy to invite guests of their choosing to address our students. They have a right to pursue research, discuss subject matters, and engage in dialogue. SUNY Brockport believes in freedom of speech and wants to continue to encourage the willingness of the community to engage in critical and respectful dialogue. We have routinely held speaking events involving speakers from various backgrounds and viewpoints, and will continue to do so. "