Massachusetts Congressman Barney Frank addressed a graduation ceremony at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth and left the graduating class of 2012 in shock! The always outspoken and soon-to-be retired Congressman told a black degree recipient that his graduation gown finally gave him a hoodie that he could wear “and no one will shoot at you.”
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Referring to the Trayvon Martin shooting, Frank was one of two people to receive the Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Medal at the event.
His comments were directed at Hubie Jones, a black recipient of an honorary doctorate, who he said had “played a major role in diminishing inequality.”
Frank said:
“One of the great men that I’ve worked with Hubie for many years and I’m particularly pleased that Hubie got an honorary degree today…You know, when you get an honorary degree they give you one of these [gowns] and Hubie, I think you now got a hoodie you can wear and no one will shoot at you…So, I think you’ll feel, I hope, pretty protected by that.”
As he made the poorly-judged comment, there was an audible gasp in the audience – while video catches some people laughing.
But Jones defended Frank and said he didn’t believe Frank made the joke to offend people.
In a statement, Frank agreed that he did not mean to offend, saying:
“I have used the “hoodie” line to ridicule the notion that a hooded sweatshirt is somehow sinister. I wore a hooded gown in three ceremonies earlier this year, and in my remarks at those events I used the same joke on myself.”
Take a look at Frank’s comments.
