LIVINGSTON-- Activists made a plea to freeholders Thursday night to join the call to rehire an an Essex County College adjunct professor who was fired last month following a heated Fox News interview.

About a dozen protesters and union members waving signs defended professor Lisa Durden outside Livingston Town Hall before taking the microphone at the Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholder's meeting to demand the media commentator be reinstated.

"I don't know what Essex County Board of Chosen Freeholders know, so we're here to tell them today," said Durden, who presented the board with a petition of 2,500 signatures in her support.

Durden, a journalism adjunct at Essex County College, was fired in June after appearing on prime-time Fox News show "Tucker Carlson Tonight" to support Black Lives Matters' decision to only invite black people to a Memorial Day celebration in New York City.

While freeholders do not have hiring or firing powers at the county college, they do appoint Board of Trustees members and offer grants to the college. Employment decisions are made by the school's separate governing body.

"The county is what pays the bills of Essex County College," Durden said. "We voted them in to make sure our children who go to county colleges are well educated."

Addressing the issue, Freeholder President Britnee Timberlake said the board will "ensure the college knows that the voices of the people were spoken tonight and should be heard."

She said a relationship has yet to be established between the board and newly appointed Essex County College President Anthony Munroe, but that a future meeting would be set up.

"I was happy to hear from the residents who came from all over the state tonight in support of free speech," said Timberlake, adding that protesters would be bettered served by channeling their demands toward the college's Board of Trustees.

Still, activists say the local politicians can influence the situation by speaking out publicly and through appointment powers.

"If (Trustee members) are not doing the right thing for students, they should not be granted that kind of job again in the reappointment," Durden said during the public comment session.

Durden previously compared her firing to a "public lynching" and recently retained a lawyer to explore legal options. She said she was given a suspension letter, signed by Vice President for Academic Affairs Jeffery Lee, right before walking into her speech class.

Her supporters say all professor's in higher learning should be able to discuss controversial issues without consequence, though the school has defended its decision.

In a June statement, Munroe said the college was "inundated with feedback" from frustrated and concerned students, faculty and families following Durden's television appearance.

"I fully believe that institutions of higher learning must provide a safe space for students," Munroe said in a statement. "The character of this institution mandates that we embrace diversity, inclusion, and unity. Racism cannot be fought with more racism.

Among her comments on Fox News, Durden said "You white people are angry because you couldn't use your white privilege card to get invited to the Black Lives Matter's all-black Memorial Day Celebration."

Members of Black Lives Matter, People's Organization for Progress, Rutgers AAUP-AFT, Seth Kaper-Dale for Governor and Black Youth 100 were among the groups that attended Thursday's meeting in support of the professor.

Avalon Zoppo may be reached at azoppo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @AvalonZoppo. Find NJ.com on Facebook.