A Rutgers professor who made disparaging remarks about conservatives, the 2nd Amendment, and Donald Trump on Twitter, says he was forced by the NYPD to undergo a psychiatric evaluation after a student complained that he felt “threatened.”
NYPD just came to my house bc Rutgers Police told them i'm a threat based on political statements i've made on campus and on twitter.
— Kevin Allred (@KevinAllred) November 16, 2016
Kevin Allred, a self-described “feminist professor” who teaches Rutgers’s class on “Politicizing Beyonce,” says that he was targeted in “Trump’s America” for a rhetorical question he posed on Twitter about buying a gun, despite the fact that Donald Trump has yet to be sworn in as President.
Allred deleted the Tweet that, apparently, caused the controversy:
The day after Trump’s election victory, Allred Tweeted, “If I see any Trump bumper stickers on the road today, my brakes will go out and I’ll run you off the road.” He followed it up with a video of a man burning a flag.
Allred also says that he mentioned burning the flag in class. Rutgers told NJ.com that a student complained to the administration about Allred’s comments and behavior, triggering an investigation and, ultimately, the NYPD’s involvement.
Allred says authorities weren’t interested in arresting him for the “threats,” but insisted that he undergo a psychiatric evaluation. He says he spent two hours undergoing tests at a local psychiatric facility before he was released with a clean bill of mental health.
they've forced me to now undergo a psychiatric evaluation at the hospital. they brought me by ambulance tho i'm not under arrest technically
— Kevin Allred (@KevinAllred) November 16, 2016
and this is for exercising my fucking first amendment rights. i'm being labeled a threat and put in a psych hospital
— Kevin Allred (@KevinAllred) November 16, 2016
even the doctors thought it was ridiculous to take me to a psychiatric hospital and force me into evaluation. it was fucking intimidation.
— Kevin Allred (@KevinAllred) November 16, 2016
According to NYPD, they were simply doing a “a wellness check … on the professor based on comments he made in the classroom and on Twitter about killing white people.” Rutgers says they believe they acted appropriately, and that they will continue to do everything in their legal power to keep students safe.
Despite his never being technically under arrest, his never being admitted to a psychiatric facility, his not being targeted by Donald Trump in any observable way, nor, apparently, being deterred from using social media to describe his ordeal in detail, Allred’s case was immediately adopted as proof positive that a crackdown on “free speech” was underway.
Hysterical Tweets ensued immediately.
@KevinAllred please be careful I'm worried for you.
— Doodle's Mamma (@CapeCodMamma) November 17, 2016
@KevinAllred Never be silent, never let them silence you. This is just the beginning. Stay strong.
— Hannah Benjamin (@softersoftest_) November 17, 2016
A feminist Rutgers lecturer was forced by police to undergo a psych eval because of his political tweets. It begins https://t.co/uga2LTWSmK
— Jessica Valenti (@JessicaValenti) November 16, 2016
It is worth noting that Rutgers University, which triggered the incident based on a student’s complaint, is among those schools asking to remain a “sanctuary” campus, declaring that it will be a “safe space” for students looking to escape Donald Trump’s policies.
Allred was back on duty Wednesday, no worse for wear, teaching giving his regularly scheduled lecture on “Women and Gender Studies.” He has also returned to Twitter to give his thoughts on the comparative propriety of his psychiatric exam.
CAN YOU EVEN IMAGINE WHAT A PSYCHOLOGICAL EVALUATION OF DONALD TRUMP WOULD SHOW??????? LIKE…CAN YOU?????
— Kevin Allred (@KevinAllred) November 17, 2016
Perhaps he can incorporate his thoughts on the matter into next semester’s Beyonce syllabus.
