Professor Griff Denies Link to Dallas Police Shooter: ‘I Don’t Advocate Killing Cops’

Proffessor Griff, a former member of the Grammy-nominated rap group Public Enemy, is caught up in some controversy surrounding the lone shooter of the Dallas police shooting that happened during a peaceful rally in Dallas, Texas, on Thursday night (July 7).

During a press conference Friday afternoon (July 8), Dallas Police Chief David O. Brown identified the gunman as Micah Xavier Johnson, a US Army reservist who died during a standoff with police.

According to USA Today, when investigators combed through Johnson's Facebook page, which has since been deactivated, they discovered a selfie taken with Richard "Professor Griff" Griffin, 55, who Dallas police department said "embraces a radical form of Afrocentrism." In addition, the DPD told the media that Johnson also studied Griffin’s audiobook, A Warrior's Tapestry.

Since the news broke, Griff has been on a campaign via social media to distance himself from the shooter. In a series of tweets, Griff denied any links to Johnson and claims that the police and FBI are monitoring him and tapping his phone.

"I do not advocate killing Cops," he tweeted, adding, "The police and FBI have been watching me and tapping my phone they know who I talk too, I DO NOT KNOW THE SHOOTER."

Griff, who is a political activist in his own right, was an integral member of Public Enemy and served as the Minister of Information for the group. He also was the leader of the S1Ws (Security of the First World), who donned military outfits and protected the group while they performed onstage. Griff was let go from PE following his controversial 1989 interview with the Washington Times, which he said that Jews were "responsible for the majority of the wickedness that goes on across the globe."

Griff was able to join Public Enemy during their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013.

Hopefully, Professor Griff can exonerate himself the Dallas police shootings. Read his tweets below.