MAYOR. ARROGANCE,
>> THANK YOU. THANK YOU. I HAVE
BEEN SAYING FOR DAYS, IF NOT
WEEKS NOW, THAT OF THE WE
SHOULD HAVE BEEN A PEACEFUL
PROTESTS A.
>> IT HAS BASICALLY BEEN CO
OPTED BY PROFESSIONAL OUTSIDE
AGITATORS. WE WERE EXTREMELY
CAUTIOUS ABOUT RELEASING,
RELEASING OUR INTEL INFORMATION
BECAUSE OUR GOAL WAS TO ENSURE
THE SAFETY OF OUR STUDENTS, THE
FACULTY AND WITHOUT ANY
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
>> AND WE ARE HERE TODAY TO
UPDATE NEW YORKERS ABOUT THE
ONGOING SITUATION AT COLUMBIA
UNIVERSITY AND OUR PLANS TO
PROTECT STUDENTS. A STAFF IN
THE PUBLIC AND WE WERE WELL
AWARE OF BASED ON THE SERIES OF
OBSERVATIONS.
>> THAT WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A
PIECE PROTESTS THAT IS PART OF
THE CONSTITUTION RIGHTS OF
AMERICANS HAS CLEARLY BEEN
COOPTED BE RIGHT WHICH THIS
ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTS AND
DEFENDS TO VOICE YOUR CONCERN,
BUT WE’VE ALSO WILL CONTINUE
AND WE HAVE SOUNDED THE ALARM
NUMEROUS TIMES BEFORE.
>> ABOUT EXTERNAL ACTORS WHO
ARE TO HIJACK THIS PROTESTS
TONIGHT WE’RE HERE TO SHOW YOU
SOME EXAMPLE OF THESE EXTERNAL
ACTORS WHO HAVE NO NO
AFFILIATION WITH COLUMBIA
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, AS WELL AS
SOME OF OUR OTHER EDUCATIONAL
FACILITIES AND THEY ARE
ACTIVELY CREATING SERIOUS
PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AT THESE
PROTESTS, MAYBE SOME OF THE
STUDENTS INVOLVED DON’T
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY ARE
INVOLVED IN. WE URGE THOSE AND
EVERYONE ELSE VIOLATING
COLOMBIA’S ORDER TO LEAVE THE
AREA AND LEAVE THE AREA NOW.
AND 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 THE OLD SAFETY AND
FOR THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. IT’S
THE IT’S THESE EXTERNAL ACTORS,
OBVIOUSLY NOT STUDENTS AND
THEIR PRESENCE ON CAMPUS IS A
VIOLATION OF COLOMBIA’S CLEAR,
CLEARLY STATED POLICY AS THE
POLICE COMMISSIONER AND OUR
DEPUTY COMMISSIONER FOR INTEL
IN COUNTERTERRORISM TERRORISM.
REBECCA.
>> WEINER WILL DETAIL YOU WOULD
SEE WHY THIS IS OF CONCERN TO
US THIS GROUP.
>> AND THE INDIVIDUALS WE’RE
GOING TO CHOOSE ONE THAT WE’RE
GOING TO SHOW IS AN OUTSIDE
AGITATOR WITH THE HISTORY OF
ESCALATING SITUATION AND TRY
AND TO CREATE CHAOS. IT IS OUR
BELIEF THEY ARE NOW ACTIVELY CO
OPTING WHAT SHOULD BE A
PEACEFUL GATHERING TO THIS IS
TO SERVE THEIR OWN AGENDA
THEY’RE NOT HERE TO PROMOTE
PEACE OR UNITY OR ALLOW A
PEACEFUL DISPLAYING OF ONE
VOICE, BUT THEY’RE HERE TO
CREATE A AND DIVISIVENESS. THAT
IS WHY I’M URGING EVERY STUDENT
IN EVERY PROTEST PROTESTERS TO
WALK AWAY FROM THIS SITUATION
NOW AND CONTINUE YOUR ADVOCACY
THROUGH OTHER MEANS. WE WILL
ALWAYS PROTECT THE RIGHT TO
PROTEST, BUT WE BALANCE THAT
RIGHT WITH THE RIGHT TO KEEP
STUDENTS THE SCHOOL AND OUR
CITIES SAFE. WE CANNOT AND WILL
NOT ALLOW WHAT SHOULD BE A A
PEACEFUL GATHERING TO TURN INTO
A VIOLENT SPECTACLE THAT SERVES
NO PURPOSE.
>> WE CANNOT WAIT UNTIL THIS
SITUATION BECOMES EVEN MORE