For New Yorkers wondering if the protests on local college campuses were led by students, the answer is not really. Almost half of those arrested at Columbia University and City College of New York (CCNY) had no affiliation with either school.
The report is surprising, even to those following the recent mayhem. As The Manhattan recently reported, some professional "community organizers" such as Lisa Fithian were seen at Columbia barking orders and instructing other protesters. But half? Such a large percentage forces a reframing of the entire imbroglio.
It was plain to the naked eye that something was afoot. The level of organization, nationwide coordination, and matching tents had tongues wagging on social media. Then, the exposure of George Soros' funding through one of the many tentacles of his network, in this case, the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights.
Mayor Eric Adams pointed out in his presser yesterday that outside agitators had infiltrated the protests, saying, "...you don't have to be the majority to influence and co-opt an operation." It turns out the ones "radicalizing our children," in Adams' words, are very nearly a majority.
This morning, as reported by the NY Post, President Donald Trump mirrored Adams' messaging. Trump, in comments before his trial resumed in the NY Supreme Court building, said of the professional protesters, “We are not letting them take over the USA. We are not letting the radical left morons take over this country."
"Our" FBI probably already knows who's paying for the so-called protesters. Will they tell us? Nah. We all know which side of American politics pushes this idiocy. Hint: Not weak, foolish, Republicans.