Controversial figure and music legend Professor Griff will moderate a debate of lesser-known gubernatorial candidates Wednesday at 7 p.m. at the Infinity Park International Ballroom in Glendale.
The debate is being put on by the California-based , a non-partisan electoral reform group. The organization’s founder, Christina Tobin, with be join the former Public Enemy member as co-moderator.
Though Republican Bob Beauprez and incumbent Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper were invited, the organization said Thursday those confirmed to debate so far include independent candidates Mike Dunafon and Marcus Giavanni, Green Party candidate Harry Hempy and Libertarian Party nominee Matthew Hess. Jill Stein, the Green Party’s 2012 presidential nominee, will give opening remarks.
The debate will stream live online at FreeAndEqual.org.
Professor Griff is a polarizing choice to headline the event for a slate of candidates who want to be taken seriously by a wide spectrum of voters, if they are to have any chance of being elected. On one hand, he brings star power. He and fellow Public Enemy members Chuck D, Terminator X and the greatest artist who ever lived, imho, Flavor Flav, last year for their socially conscious hip-hop music of the late 1980s. On the other hand, it’s wildly controversial.
Professor Griff was fired from Public Enemy in 1989 after he , blaming Jews for “the majority of wickedness that goes on across the globe” who have “a history of killing black men.” He later said his comments were taken out of context. Nonetheless, the controversy prompted Def Jam Recordings president Russell Simmons to eject Professor Griff and temporarily disband the trailblazing group.
“I want to state that we fully denounce any and all anti-Semitic statements by Professor Griff,” Simmons said at the time.
In a statement released Thursday, Professor Griff said, “”Revolution is complete, constructive, conscious, cosmic change. And Free and Equal Elections are at the forefront of that, uniting the human family.”
More recently Professor Griff has promoted his theories about the Illuminati, an alleged secretive organization that controls the world with power and evil, while criticizing fellow artists, including and calling West’s wife, Kim Kardashian, “talentless trash.” He also alleged rapper and .
The Glendale debate is co-hosted by the Greater Glendale Chamber of Commerce, in association with Rock the Vote, Mint Press News, HeadCount, Marley Coffee, Free Speech TV, Corry & Associates, Ballot Access News, We Are Change Colorado, Club 64, The Founding Family, March Against Monsanto, Hearthstone Winery, Project Censored, Juice Rap News, Progressive Women of Colorado, Next News Network, Green Shadow Cabinet, “The Tony Stiles Show,” FairVote, The Collective 360, Glendale Cherry Creek Chronicle, The Anti-Media and Law Enforcement Against Prohibition.
Free & Equal Elections stated Thursday, “Open debates help educate the general public about the issues that status quo candidates are unwilling to
address: electoral reform, money in politics, the Patriot Act, cannabis and drug policy reform, the
militarization of police, NDAA, labeling of GMOs, the illegitimacy of the Federal Reserve, prison system,
NSA surveillance, and the military industrial complex.”
