April 23, 1970: Kingman Brewster speech to Yale faculty

His remarks at the meeting included the following, later released to the public: “I personally want to say that I am appalled and ashamed that things have come to such a pass in this country that I am skeptical of the ability of black revolutionaries to achieve a fair trial anywhere in the United States. In large part, this atmosphere has been created by police actions and prosecutions against the Panthers in many parts of the country. It is also one more inheritance from centuries of racial discrimination and oppression.”

 

Brewster’s remarks were met with criticism from politicians around the country, including Vice President Spiro Agnew.