Outsiders were the agitators at elite universities’ Anti-Israel protests
When many Americans hear the words “outside agitators,” they may think of southern segregationists complaining about civil rights workers. However, in today’s context, these words carry a different meaning.
Now, police and northern mayors, some of whom are black, are using the term to describe professional radicals who are inciting antisemitic, pro-Hamas riots on college campuses across the country.
For example, Mayor Adams accused “outside agitators” of radicalizing students during the riots at various New York City universities like NYU, City College, Fordham, and Columbia.
Police data supports the claim that many of those causing trouble on campuses have no affiliation with the universities.
At City College, 102 out of 170 arrested individuals last week were not affiliated with the college, according to police reports.
Terrorist headbands
One of the leaders involved in the Columbia takeover, identified as James Carlson, is a known professional agitator with a history of anarchist activities. Despite having no affiliation with Columbia, he was arrested during the protests.
Many of these outside radicals come prepared with symbols like masked faces, Arab head coverings, and flags representing terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Some activist groups have been training for campus protests since the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, with the National Students for Justice in Palestine playing a significant role in organizing the protests.
Despite the clear evidence of an organized conspiracy, the Department of Justice has yet to take action, possibly due to political pressure and concerns about voter support in swing states.
Democratic base
The reluctance to address the nationwide campus chaos may be linked to the fact that radical-left students and Muslim Americans are crucial components of the Democratic coalition, and any probe could risk losing their support for President Biden.
The administration’s pressure on Israel for a cease-fire with Hamas could also be influenced by these political considerations.
Despite the growing evidence of outside influence in the protests, many college presidents struggled to effectively manage the situations on their campuses, leading to disruptions in academic activities and compromises with protestors.
The lack of strong responses from college administrations has resulted in reputational damage and potential legal challenges for universities.
It remains to be seen how these issues will be addressed and what consequences may arise for those involved.
