Recent protests on college campuses in New York City concerning the war in Gaza have revealed a significant involvement of individuals who are not students or staff of the institutions where these demonstrations are occurring. At Columbia University and the City College of New York (CCNY), a substantial number of those arrested during the protests had no direct affiliation with the schools, according to data from the New York Police Department.
During protests at Columbia University and CCNY, police detained 282 individuals. At Columbia, 32 of the 112 arrested were found not to be associated with the university. The situation was more pronounced at CCNY, where 102 out of 170 arrested individuals had no ties to the college. This trend of non-affiliated individuals participating in campus protests has been noted by city officials, including New York Mayor Eric Adams, who referred to the presence of “outside agitators” in recent demonstrations.
The protests, which began last month and have escalated in intensity, particularly focused on Columbia’s Morningside Heights campus. Activists, including those not affiliated with the university, barricaded themselves inside Hamilton Hall, an academic building. The occupation of Hamilton Hall led to a significant police response, with officers in riot gear clearing the building late Tuesday night.
The involvement of external participants in these protests has raised concerns about the influence and direction of campus activism, particularly as the city and universities manage security and free speech issues. The arrests and the high proportion of non-affiliated protesters have underscored the widespread impact and appeal of the antiwar movement, extending beyond the student body and drawing in a broader community of activists.