The deputy commissioner of operations for the nation's largest police force issued a call to action on Friday.
New York Police Department Deputy Commissioner of Operations Kaz Daughtry revealed several items discovered by police officers in Columbia University's Hamilton Hall after they cleared it of protesters who had barricaded themselves inside. The officers found makeshift weapons, along with terrorist propaganda advocating for “Death to America!” and a book on terrorism. (RELATED: ‘Shut Everything Down,' Pro-Hamas Groups Targeting US Military Bases)
The findings raised concerns about the motivations of protesters and their potential backers.
On Friday morning, the NYPD cleared anti-Israeli activists from two campuses in New York City. Chief of Patrol John Chell provided a briefing to reporters after the operation. Chell confirmed that the police acted “at the request of school presidents.” After clearing New York University and The New School in New York of demonstrators and their trash-strewn encampments, 56 people were arrested.
Daughtry also spoke to reporters, insinuating that “somebody” or “some organization” is behind the nationwide student protests.
Despite the large number of participants, the demonstrations have had few long-term consequences. (RELATED: Report: Iranian University Offering Scholarships To Expelled Anti-Israel Protestors)
“I just want to say, and I said it before, there's somebody behind this movement,” Daughtry warned. “There is some organization behind this movement. The level of organization that we're seeing in both of these schools and at Columbia.”
“There are leaflets on how to protest, leaflets on how to commit civil disobedience. There are leaflets on what to do when you get arrested, leaflets on what to say to police,” he continued, Fox News reported.
“There is somebody funding this,” Daughtry insisted. “There is somebody radicalizing our students.”:
During the remarks, the police chief noted that “99%” of those arrested on Friday were students.
Chell then read one piece of literature that urged students to “occupy the occupiers.”
“Enter the temporary autonomous zone from New York to Gaza,” another said. “Disrupt. Reclaim. Destroy Zionist business interests everywhere.”
“Long live the intifada,” read another.
Officers present at NYU on Friday gave the protesters multiple chances to leave the area.
“A couple said, I want to be arrested,” Chell remarked. “And we said, okay.”
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