Nassau Community College Professor's 'I Sit With Kaepernick' Shirt Causes Stir Online

A professor at Nassau Community College has come under fire after a picture of him wearing a controversial shirt on Sept. 11 began circulating online.

The picture, which was surreptitiously snapped by one of his students, shows Porter Kirkwood, a professor emeritus of sociology, lecturing to his class while wearing a T-shirt that reads "I Sit With Kaepernick." The shirt is referring to NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who first took a knee, and then sat, during the National Anthem in protest of the treatment of people of color in the United States. The 29-year-old quarterback ended his contract with his former team, the 49ers, last year and has not been signed to another team. Some believe that is due to his political stance.

Many online thought the shirt was tasteless, and that Kirkwood was wrong to make the political statement on Sept. 11. Some critics were harsher than others. "This is disgusting. He should be ashamed and Nassau Community should suspend or fire [him]," one person wrote.

But in a statement to Patch, Kirkwood said it was never his intention to offend anyone, and wearing the shirt had nothing to do with the anniversary of 9/11.

"I wore the shirt because I believe in free speech and Kaepernick's right to express himself," Kirkwood said. "It had no connection to 9/11. The reaction I am getting amazes me. If people are offended, they have my apologies, but I do not apologize for supporting free speech wherever and whenever I choose."

Patch reached out to Nassau Community College to find out if there are any guidelines for what professors can wear, but has not yet received a response.

What do you think? Should Kirkwood have been wearing that shirt to his class? Sound off in the comments below.

Photo: Nassau Community College