Controversial figure Ward Churchill took the stand on Monday in his wrongful termination lawsuit against the University of Colorado.

Churchill was fired in July 2007 for research misconduct and plagiarism. A university panel said he couldn't back up claims about the spread of smallpox among American Indians.

But Churchill said he was really fired because he wrote a controversial essay about the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He said he was only trying to spur discussion about U.S. policy.

"I had a real simple proposition: That if you make a practice of killing other people's babies for personal gain, comfortability, quality of life, that eventually they're going to give you a taste of the same thing," said Churchill, The Denver Post reported.

Churchill has claimed Cherokee and Creek heritage but is not enrolled in a federally recognized tribe.

Get the Story:
Fired prof takes the stand (The Denver Post 3/24)
Fired Colorado Professor Defends 9/11 Remarks (The New York Times 3/24)
Ward Churchill Takes Witness Stand to Deny Academic Misconduct (The Chronicle of Higher Education 3/23)

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Opinion: 'Anything goes' for Ward Churchill (3/18)
Opinion: Ward Churchill too tough one to defend (3/13)
Opinion: Ward Churchill murdered scholarship (3/11)