Amidst unrest on the campuses of Columbia and New York University, LA News Center has uncovered a contentious debate surrounding the role of “outside agitators” in fanning the flames of anti-Israel demonstrations.
“Outside Agitators” Blamed
Mayor Eric Adams has voiced his condemnation of these agitators, accusing them of disrupting the city and posing a threat to its safety. “Someone wanted something to happen at that protest at NYU,” he stated. “We know that we have acknowledged and saw across the country, there are people who come have nothing to do with the issue and they want to aggravate.”
Mass Arrests at NYU
On Monday, the NYPD took swift action, arresting 120 individuals at NYU, including 116 who were issued summonses for trespassing. Four individuals were issued desk appearance tickets: Asif Ali, Tracy Jawad, Bassel Yassein, and Harrison Frahn. All faced charges of resisting arrest and obstructing governmental administration.
Mayor Adams drew parallels to the Black Lives Matter protests, where he believed that anarchists had instigated similar unrest. “We strongly believe that is the case right now, that there are people who are here. They latch on to any protests to see our police officers having bottles thrown at them, chairs.”
Similar Tactics at Columbia
NYPD Commissioner Kaz Daughtry echoed the mayor’s concerns, stating that known “professional agitators” had been identified at the Monday protests. “Was there a fire sale on those tents? So there’s some organizing going on,” Commissioner Adams remarked. “There’s a well concerted organizing effort. And what’s the goal of that organizing? That’s what we need to be asking ourselves.”
NYPD Responds to Campus Uprisings
Responding to the escalating tensions, NYU imposed a hybrid learning model on its main campus. All students were given until 4 p.m. to leave Monday, with faculty expressing resistance to police intervention. The situation at Columbia University has also raised alarm, leading to the resignation of President Minouche Shafik.
Political Outcry and Condemnation
The anti-Israel protests have drawn widespread condemnation from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand called the antisemitism on display at Columbia “wholly unacceptable.” The House GOP delegation has called for President Shafik’s resignation, citing her lack of action in addressing spiraling antisemitic incidents.
Call for Dialogue and Action
Amidst the heated rhetoric, President Shafik has emphasized her preference for holding discussions with protesters on campus without involving law enforcement. However, Mayor Adams has maintained that the NYPD will seek out and identify those seeking to incite violence. He added, “We are committed to safety in our city and we will not let these outside agitators continue to disrupt our communities.”
Data sourced from: foxnews.com
