Toby Jennings, a professor at Grand Canyon University in Arizona, was suspended after a September video surfaced of him saying Black Lives Matter activists 'should be hung'

An African-American professor at a Christian university has been suspended after making a shocking comment regarding Black Lives Matter activists.

Toby Jennings apologized on Friday after his remarks during a faith-based discussion last September at Grand Canyon University in Arizona resurfaced last week.

Jennings was speaking of social justice and remarked that some Black Lives Matter activists 'should be hung', which drew audible gasps from the audience.

Although the professor was reportedly given a verbal warning right after the lecture, organizations recently brought the issue to the school, promoting his suspension.

The panel was videotaped and Jennings was asked by an audience member what were his thoughts on the Black Lives Matter movement an hour into the talk.

Jennings responded: 'You have folks that participate in it on one side that are very thoughtful about the matter and then on the other side, you have people on the opposite side of that who frankly should be hung.'

He continued: 'Yes, I did say that on video. They are saying things that are not helpful to any way, shape or form of human dignity or flourishing.

'That is not helpful to any conversation. That kind of rhetoric is not helpful to any conversation. And that’s what I mean by they should be hung.'

Local members of Black Lives Matter and the NAACP went to the private Christian university with their complaints when the clip was shared on social media recently.

Grand Canyon University said a member of the College of Theology told Jennings his statements were offensive but the matter wasn't pushed further, reported Fox News.

Jennings made the shocking comment at a panel for the private Arizona Christian university last September (pictured)

Brian Mueller, the university president, said Jennings was suspended for the upcoming semester but doesn't believe the incident should reflect poorly on the school.

He said to the news station: 'Yes, it was wrong, but it is an isolated incident and it does not represent who our faculty is and it does not represent who our students are.'

Grand Canyon University added in a statement: 'As we continue our investigation, we will interview students who have attended this professor’s classes and students and guests who attended the forum to gain their perspective on this professor and this incident and why it was not brought to the attention of University executives sooner.'

Back Lives Matter and the NAACP complained to the school, prompting Jennings' suspension for the upcoming semester. He apologized for his comments on Friday

However, some community members think Jennings' suspension is not enough.

Pastor Warren Stewart Jr. said on Facebook: 'My heart is broken, not because GCU is our enemy, but they claim to be our brothers and sisters.

'Brothers and sisters please stop avoiding talking about ways racism.. makes us uncomfortable.'

