Bail and leaving the state
I thought the professor couldn't leave the state, yet he shows up in Boston. What gives? The movie should have at least explained the non sequitur?
shareTrue, he couldn't leave Texas... legally. But think about what James Farmer, Jr. was saying during the debate... "An unjust law is no law at all, which means I have a right, even a duty, to resist -- with violence or civil disobedience. You should pray I choose the latter." I think Tolson chose civil disobedience (leaving the state, which violated the terms of his release from jail) as his way of resisting unjustice, rather than resorting to violence.
...Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he doesn't become a monster...
Also keep in mind that his appearance at the debate was not visible. He came in after the debate had started and left before the others. He was clearly breaking his parole in order to attend the debate. I liked that the movie didn't spell everything out.