For the past week or so, the news cycle has been overwhelmed by one primary issue: campus protests that have become campus riots. On May Day, even the most soft-shelled invertebrates among college administrators seem to have decided enough is enough. The seized buildings are being retaken, the encampments are being cleaned up, and the whining, shrieking, spoiled children have been carted away.
We aren't yet clear on who was behind all this; be assured, that someone or some group of people is behind all this. These campus riots are beginning to feel a lot like a dress rehearsal.
Here's why.
First: It's coming to light now that a large number of the people at these protests were not students. At least one was a professional agitator; the others are unknown.
The New York City Police Department released a video showing a professional "protest consultant" who was seen on other social media videos instructing a mob of anti-Israel agitators as they took over Hamilton Hall at Columbia University overnight Monday.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams spoke about outside agitators during a press conference Tuesday evening.
"What should have been a peaceful protest, it has basically been co-opted by professional outside agitators. We were extremely cautious about releasing our intel information because our goal was to ensure the safety of the students, the faculty, and without destruction to property," Adams said. "We have sounded the alarm several times before about external actors who attempted to hijack this private protest."
On X, Charlie Kirk presents a video from MSNBC (yes, really) in which the NYPD stated that a majority of the agitators arrested at Columbia University were not students. Which begs the question: Who were they?
Two key confirmations in this clip:
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) May 1, 2024
1) The criminals who seized Hamilton Hall at Columbia were outside agitators, not students.
2) Approximately 300 were arrested at Columbia University overnight, the majority of whom are not students.
People do not yet realize just how much… pic.twitter.com/sBsblhn2ir
Second: While some of the protestors had hand-lettered signs, others were clearly professionally printed — in volume.
"Grassroots Sign Company, Inc - specializing in bespoke spontaneous multistate protests since 2016" pic.twitter.com/pbdiRncAjo
— Caveman in a suit (@CavemanInASuit) April 30, 2024
And look at all the strangely identical tents in this encampment:
Something odd about those campus tent encampments. Almost all the tents are identical - same design, same size, same fresh-out-of-the-box appearance.
— BCinSoFL🇺🇸🇮🇱🏳️🌈 (@BCinKWFL) April 24, 2024
Which suggests that rather than an organic process, some organization has supplied them and organized the event. pic.twitter.com/1Xtl55pyHo
Now, if one was going to run a dress rehearsal for a series of larger uprisings — say, following a presidential election — what would one do differently?
Previously on RedState: Police Rip Down 'Palestinian' Flag and Proudly Raise American One in Lib-Triggering Scene
'We Must Act': House Republicans Announce Plan to Crack Down on Antisemitism on University Campuses
It's become apparent that some, if not most, of these riots were not organic. They were planned — maybe at short notice to take advantage of a developing issue, but they were planned, funded, and supported logistically. We may well be in for another 2020-style Summer of Love, but there also may be more to it than this.
It may very well be about November.
Now, six months away from the election, the trends are all moving in the same direction: Trump. If this holds, and if Donald Trump wins his non-consecutive second term, we may well be seeing months, if not years, of Northern-Ireland-style "troubles." Our major cities may be the location of rioting, like those that have happened on these Ivy League campuses, only jacked up to the next level.
Bear in mind that things are likely to escalate beyond what we have seen recently as well — oh, and there may be some people among the millions that have entered the country illegally, unscreened, unvetted, and largely unknown, who may have plans of their own. We've seen the dress rehearsal — the identical tents, the identical signs, the professional agitators, the petulant demands, the breaking and entering, the occupation of public spaces, and the constant whining.
The more this all develops, the more I'm thinking of this cycle:
- Hard times make tough people.
- Tough people make good times.
- Good times make weak people.
- Weak people make hard times. (You are here.)
All of these campus riots were made possible by weak people: Weak-minded students, and weak-willed university administrators. And if our cities explode this summer, or in November, or both, it will be made possible by invertebrates in the governments of those cities.
But there's hope:
NYPD cops tearing down the Palestine flag at City College NY & throwing it on the ground before raising American flag.
— police.law.news (@policelawnews) May 1, 2024
The symbol of sanity and patriotism that we needed. pic.twitter.com/y479D4n3yN
Maybe — just maybe — the tough people are still with us, and ready for a resurgence. It's time. Enough is enough.
