New York City’s Democratic Mayor Eric Adams expressed concern on Tuesday over the surge in violence during the ongoing anti-Israel protests in the city, attributing it to “outside agitators.”
During his regular press conference on Tuesday, Adams addressed the recent protests at Columbia University and New York University, suggesting that opportunistic individuals were infiltrating the demonstrations with the aim of escalating tensions, particularly against law enforcement.
“We cannot tolerate outside agitators coming into our city and causing destruction. It’s evident that there are individuals who exploit these protests, seeking to incite violence, especially against our police officers,” Adams stated, emphasizing the need to address this concerning trend.
“We strongly believe that there are individuals who seize upon any protest as an opportunity to sow chaos. Those who engage in peaceful protests do not resort to hurling objects like bottles and chairs,” Adams remarked. “There are elements that infiltrate these gatherings, unrelated to the core issue, with the intention of provoking unrest.”
The New York Police Department reported that 133 individuals were arrested on Monday following the protests at NYU, with most receiving summonses for trespassing. Four individuals faced charges of resisting arrest and obstruction.
These incidents followed the weekend arrests of over 100 demonstrators at Columbia University.
In response to the escalating tensions, NYU took measures to secure Gould Plaza, a focal point for Monday’s protests, by installing a plywood wall. However, the anti-Israel protesters later marched towards NYPD headquarters after being dispersed from the plaza.
“There appears to be a coordinated effort behind these actions. We must question the motives driving this organization,” Adams remarked, urging a deeper examination of the underlying goals of these protests.
Addressing the issue of antisemitism, Adams expressed his condemnation, stating that he was “appalled and disgusted” by such behavior among the protesters.
Columbia University transitioned to fully virtual classes on Monday, coinciding with the start of the Jewish holiday of Passover. The university subsequently announced that classes would adopt a hybrid format for the remainder of the semester and the academic year.
