KNOXVILLE (AP) — The University of Tennessee has launched an investigation into a law professor who in a Twitter post called on drivers to run over demonstrators blocking traffic in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The Knoxville News Sentinel reports that Glenn Reynolds' account was suspended by Twitter after he posted "Run them down," in response to news about protesters on the interstate.

Reynolds, who runs the Instapundit blog and writes newspaper columns, said his account was unblocked after he agreed to delete the tweet.

Melanie D. Wilson, the dean of the law school, said administrators are investigating what she called Reynolds' "irresponsible use of his platform."

Reynolds defended his tweet, saying that he doesn't think "people should stop for a mob, especially when it's been violent."