Their proposed Second Chance legislation would be open to criminals convicted of no more than two non-violent, non-sexual felonies.

Before applying, offenders would have to perform public service, get a GED, complete drug therapy if needed and remain conviction-free for five years. The records would be sealed except for law enforcement and for future criminal proceedings.

However, it was not this proposal, but Sharpton's past actions, that got the biggest reaction from the audience.

Some HLS students called Sharpton "race-bating" and "hate-mongering" and asked him to apologize for comments they said incited violence against Jews in New York.

They were referring to a 1995 case, in which Freddy's, a Jewish-owned store planning an expansion that would have evicted a black-owned store, was set on fire, killing eight people.

After the arson, New York Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani, many Jewish groups, and others accused Sharpton of using racially charged language that had inspired the arson.

When an audience member asked him about the Freddy's incident, Sharpton said there are certain misconceptions about the case. The fire occurred months after his remarks, he said, so the remarks could not have been responsible unless the perpetrator (who committed suicide after the fire) had "delayed reactions."