Carlow Student Protests Racial Profiling By Dressing as The Joker, Faces Criminal Charges (PHOTO)
ByWith school shootings a major issue in the United States, certain costumes may be out of bounds on college campuses. For Carlow University in Pittsburgh, cross "The Joker" off the list.
According to The Huffington Post, the University suspended 19-year-old student Christian Smith for attending class dressed as The Joker. See pictures and video here.
Carlow Police was notified on Sept, 27 around 11 a.m. of a man walking around campus in makeup and a hoodie, The Pittsburg Post Gazette reported.
When police approached Smith in class for his ID, Smith, who is black, accused them of racial profiling, according to The Gazette. Police left, consulted with higher ups, and returned to request that Smith remove his make-up. At this point, the teen was "combative" and spit in the direction of several officers, reported.
According to The Gazette and Smith's lawyer, the college student dressed as The Joker partly to spite police, whom Smith felt had been unfairly targeting him this year by asking for his ID too frequently. Smith chose to make his demonstration on the same day he would be attending a comic book convention.
Smith was taken to jail, the hospital, and eventually the Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, "where he was temporarily committed," according to The Gazette.
According to The Huffington Post, Smith will face charges of resisting arrest, terroristic threats and disorderly conduct.
School officials believed the situation was handled properly. "Carlow University is confident in the actions of university police in protecting the rights and privileges of the student involved, and ensuring the safety of its students and the campus community," Drew Wilson, director of media relations for Carlow University, said to The Gazette.
No speculations from either source whether similiar actions would have been taken if Smith dressed as Batman