rutgers old queens

The Old Queens administration building on the campus of Rutgers University. (Robert Sciarrino | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

NEW BRUNSWICK -- A Rutgers University professor says he was taken to a hospital for a psychiatric evaluation by police after someone at the school felt threatened by comments he made about flag burning and gun control in light of Donald Trump's election.

Kevin Allred, an adjunct professor on the New Brunswick campus, said on Twitter that New York police came to his Brooklyn home Tuesday night and told him Rutgers called them because they were concerned about statements he made on campus and on Twitter.

Allred has posted dozens of anti-Trump tweets since the Republican's presidential win last week. They included tweets showing a flag burning and comments about gun control.

He said he was not arrested, but was taken to Bellevue Hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and released. He said he returned to Rutgers Wednesday to teach his women's and gender studies classes.

"The doctors were like, 'This is ridiculous, why did they bring you here?'" Allred told the Daily News. "And I said, 'That's what I thought but they told me they had to do it.'"

NYPD officials confirmed Rutgers police asked them for help with Allred, the Daily News reported.

"We were informed by Rutgers PD that he made threats to kill white people and he was subsequently taken to Bellevue Hospital for evaluation," the NYPD statement said.

Rutgers officials said a student filed a complaint about Allred, but gave no further details.

"The Rutgers University Police Department responded to a complaint from a student and took all appropriate action. We have no further comment," Rutgers spokesman E.J. Miranda said.

Allred, best known for his popular "Politicizing Beyonce" course at Rutgers, was forced by Twitter to take down one post about the Second Amendment on Wednesday or risk having his account shut down, he tweeted. He later tweeted a summary of what he said was in the post he removed: "i said: would conservatives care as much abt the 2nd amendment if guns killed more white people? a question meant to expose double standard."

that tweet was not a threat. it was a hyperbolic question posed to show a double standard-look at context/tone of most every tweet i make. — Kevin Allred (@KevinAllred) November 16, 2016

The controversy over Allred's comments comes as students at Rutgers and across the nation are staging walkouts and protests against Trump and in support of immigrant students living in the country illegally.

Students at Rutgers and other universities have asked their schools to become "sanctuary campuses," where unauthorized immigrant students would be safe if Trump follows through on promises for mass deportations.

On Tuesday, Rutgers' president released a statement promising to do everything in the university's legal power to keep students safe.

"No matter your political view, ethnicity, religious beliefs, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or nationality, you are first and foremost a Rutgers student," Rutgers President Robert Barchi said in his statement. "You are owed our respect, our support, and our best efforts to keep you safe and secure as you express your opinions and pursue your studies."

Staff writer Spencer Kent contributed to this report.

Kelly Heyboer may be reached at kheyboer@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @KellyHeyboer. Find her at KellyHeyboerReporter on Facebook.