Violent riots have erupted on American college campuses in the last week, with young adults protesting Israel and its ongoing war with Hamas. Police have arrested hundreds of protesters and new reports are shedding light on who is being arrested. Police say they’re not just arresting students but also “chaos professionals.”
Protesters have set up barricaded tent encampments on the campuses of Columbia, NYU, UCLA, Yale, Harvard, UT at Austin and others. Violent clashes have led to people being assaulted.
In one instance, a Jewish girl was beaten unconscious by a pro-Palestinian supporter at the UCLA riots.
Protesters illegally seized Hamilton Hall at Columbia University by scaling walls and smashing windows. Vandals also spray-painted and destroyed state property at UCLA.
Police officers in riot gear have arrested hundreds of agitators, and some colleges have had to cancel classes and graduation ceremonies.
Nearly half of the pro-Palestinian agitators arrested at Columbia University and the City College of New York were not students of those schools, according to New York City police. The New York Police Department said it had arrested 282 protesters on Thursday, May 2, and of those, 134 had zero affiliation with either school.
“It is our belief they are now actively co-opting what should be a peaceful gathering,” New York City Mayor Eric Adams, D, said. “This is to serve their own agenda. They’re not here to promote peace or unity or allow a peaceful display of one’s own voice. But they’re here to create discord and divisiveness, which is why I’m warning every student and every protester to walk away from this situation now.”
The New York Post reported one of the agitators arrested was identified as Lisa Fithian, a professional protester who has participated in several movements across the country since the 70s.
Police believe the outside agitators are guiding peaceful student protesters to follow their lead and use destructive and criminal methods to help radicalize the students.
“These once-peaceful protests are being exploited by professional outside agitators, and the safety of all students, faculty and staff are now a concern,” New York City’s police commissioner said.
Police in Austin, Texas, say they arrested 79 people on the campus of the University of Texas on Monday, April 29. Of those, 45 had no affiliation with the university.
President Joe Biden made remarks from the White House on May 2, saying he will always defend free speech and that violence will never be tolerated.
“This isn’t a moment for politics. It’s a moment for clarity,” Biden said. “So let me be clear. Peaceful protest in America, violent protest is not protected. Peaceful protest is. It’s against the law, and violence occurs. Destroying property is not a peaceful protest. It’s against the law. Vandalism, trespassing, breaking windows, shutting down campuses, forcing the cancellation of classes and graduations — none of this is a peaceful protest.”
Biden also said the college protests and riots have not made him reconsider his Middle Eastern policies.
