Actor Danny Glover told students at Texas A&M University the intent of the Second Amendment was to protect slavery.
“I don’t know if you know the genesis of the right to bear arms,” he said. “The Second Amendment comes from the right to protect themselves from slave revolts, and from uprisings by Native Americans.”
“A revolt from people who were stolen from their land or revolt from people whose land was stolen from, that’s what the genesis of the second amendment is,” he continued.
Glover, best known for roles in the “Lethal Weapon” franchise and “Angels in the Outfield,” was addressing students at an event being held in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Director of Texas A&M’s Memorial Student Center, Luke Altendorf, told Campus Reform on Friday that the university was unaware of Glover’ talking points prior to his speech.
“I had no idea, we really didn’t know that topic was coming up,” he told Campus Reform. “Someone was asking a question about activism, I think that’s where some of that came from.”
Altendorf declined to say if, or how much the school had paid for Glover’s speech, but said student fees were not used.
WATCH: Danny Glover says the Second Amendment was crafted by America's founding fathers to protect slavery
In the past, however, the university paid Angela Davis and Harry Belafonte $25,000 for their speeches at the same event.
Altendorf also defended the school’s decision to host those controversial speakers with university resources.
“We didn’t feel those speakers you are referring to are bad decisions on these topics because we want to foster discussion,” he said.
The video recording of the event was captured by members of a student group, the Texas Aggie Conservatives (TAC). That group has also created an online petition blasting Texas A&M for its speaker selections.
Eric Schroeder, chairman of the conservative group, called the event “outrageous.”
“It should be a time for real reflection and respect,” he said referring to the memorial breakfast for King. “Instead, the university pushes a political agenda.”
Schroeder also called on university President Bowen Loftin to make up for the event by inviting a conservative speaker of equal star power.
“We expect President Loftin to stand by his commitment to diversity and fully support our efforts to bring in a conservative speaker to provide an alternative to Mr. Glover’s far left message” said Schroeder.
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