On Tuesday night, Columbia released a statement noting that “the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University.”
New York City Mayor Eric Adams warned earlier this week that outside agitators were to blame for much of the destruction caused by the recent encampments and occupations plaguing campuses.
According to the New York Post, of the 282 people who were taken into custody for their involvement in the violent demonstrations, only 148 were affiliated with schools. The remaining 134, police sources told the outlet, were not students.
Among the outside agitators were 47-year-old Jesse Pape, 40-year-old James Carlson, and 22-year-old Nora Fayad. Pape and Carlson have been involved in numerous protests over the past few months, with the latter taking part in those that blocked traffic on bridges and tunnels in the New York City area. Fayad was previously caught chanting pro-Hamas slogans.
On Tuesday night, Columbia released a statement slamming those who "occupied, vandalized and blockaded" Hamilton Hall, noting that "the group that broke into and occupied the building is led by individuals who are not affiliated with the University."
During a press conference on Wednesday, Adams suggested that despite the fact that outside agitators made up a minority of those taking part in the protests, their impact was outsized.
"You don't have to be the majority to influence and co-opt an operation," he said, warning that, "there is a movement to radicalize young people."
Young Americans, he lamented, "are being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalizing our children."
He vowed to crack down on those who come to the city with the intention of wreaking havoc and infecting young minds with harmful ideas.
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