Common's Kean University Commencement Speech Cancelled After New Jersey Police Object, Citing Rapper's Sympathy For Assata Shakur

Common, who was scheduled to deliver the commencement speech to students at New Jersey's Kean University on May 21, will no longer appear after The State Troopers Fraternal Association of New Jersey (STFANJ) said it would be inappropriate because of the rapper's ties to a New Jersey controversy.

They objected to his Like Water For Chocolate track "A Song for Assata" in which he tells the story of Assata Shakur (a.k.a. Joanne Chesimard), a member of the Black Panther Party who was convicted of killing New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster in 1973 during a shootout. Shakur escaped from prison and fled to Cuba, where she has been living under political asylum since 1984.

Police were concerned that he sympathized with a convicted killer and was therefore unfit to be speaking to the students.

In an interview with NorthJeresy.com, Chris Burgos, president of STFANJ, called choosing Common "a slap in the face" to those on the force.

"What is troubling here is that a state university that is subsidized with state taxpayer funds, is once again being questioned on their decision-making at the highest levels," Burgos said. "Free speech is free speech ... but our positions are well known."

Capt. Steve Jones, spokesman for the state police, added: "We can't control who the university invites to speak. However, we will continue our efforts to make the public aware of Joanne Chesimard's escape and life on the lam and continue to seek her return to New Jersey and justice."

Susan Kayne, a spokeswoman for the university, told NorthJersey.com that the news of Common's selection had been revealed prematurely.

"The students expressed interest in Common because he composed the Oscar-winning song 'Glory' with our prior commencement speaker John Legend," Kayne said. "While we respect his talent, Kean is pursuing other speaker options."

Common's co-writer on "Glory," John Legend, spoke at Kean's 2011 graduation. Last year's speaker was Saturday Night Live alum Darrell Hammond.

What do you think? Did the university made the right decision? Sound off in the comments section below!

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