NYPD brass and Mayor Eric Adams on Tuesday blamed outside agitators for the illegal takeover of an academic building at Columbia University as officials urged the Ivy League student protesters to call it quits.
“This is to serve their own agenda,” Adams said of the outside group at a Tuesday press conference. “They’re not here to promote peace, unity, allow a peaceful display in one voice, but they are here to create discord and divisiveness.”
“We cannot and will not allow what should be a peaceful gathering to turn into a violent spectacle that serves no purpose. We cannot wait until this situation becomes even more serious,” the mayor said.
The NYPD’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism unit first realized they were dealing with the antagonistic mob when dozens of agitators stormed into Hamilton Hall in the middle of the night Tuesday — a significant escalation of the anti-Israel student encampment protest.
“We are seeing the tactics changing in a way that is endangering public safety,” said NYPD Commissioner Edward Caban. “These once-peaceful protests are being exploited by professional outside agitators. The safety of all students, faculty, and staff are now a concern.”
The group early Tuesday violently broke into the building — which they dubbed “Hind’s Hall” in honor of Hind Rajab, a 6-year-old Palestinian girl who was killed in the Middle Eastern conflict — and used metal barricades, tables, chairs and other materials to seal themselves inside.
One shocking video captured a hammer-wielding demonstrator smashing through a glass-paneled door and placing what appeared to be a bike lock around its handles, and another image showed a man brawling with a campus security guard.
The group also broke cameras, scaled walls and were seen tossing the school’s property out the window.
One of the agitators was identified as Lisa Fithian — a professional protester who has been raising hell across the country across a myriad of movements since the 1970s.
“These protests have been and are being influenced by external actors who are unaffiliated with the university — some who have been known to our department and others for many years for their dangerous, destructive and at times criminal activity associated with protests,” said Rebecca Ulam Weiner, the NYPD’s Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence and Counterterrorism.
Several of the rioters were also reported to the NYPD by Columbia, which recognized they were not affiliated with the prestigious school.
The NYPD worries that the dozens of agitators are instructing peaceful student protesters to follow their lead.
“We think these tactics are a result of guidance that’s being given to students from some of these external actors,” Ulam Weiner said.
“This is an escalation that violence began last night at Columbia. We do expect it to continue — not in one building on one campus but to other protests to other universities, and to other cities. We are in constant dialogue with Columbia University officials as well as other partners, and we are as always fully prepared to respond.”
Caban emphasized that the NYPD would step in to clear out the agitators if the university asks for help, similar to when it helped clear out the tent city when it was first erected.
If the NYPD moves in, the Hamilton Hall occupiers would be charged with third-degree burglary, criminal mischief and trespassing, officials said.
Those still on the campus lawn — despite Columbia’s warnings to vacate by 2 p.m. Monday — will be hit with trespassing and disorderly conduct charges.
In the meantime, Adams urged students to distance themselves from the violent group before it was too late.
“If you are a parent or guardian of a student, please call your child and urge them to leave the area before the situation escalates in any way. This is for their own safety and for the safety of others. These external actors are obviously not students, and their presence on campus is a violation of Columbia’s clearly stated policy,” Adams said.
Caban added: “To the parents, and I say this as a father of a college student myself. Be aware of where your children are. Be aware of what they’re involved in. If you don’t know, reach out to them, The University and the NYPD or are taking the situation seriously. You should be taking the situation seriously too.”
