Anti-Israel protesters at NYU admit they have no idea what they’re protesting: ‘I wish I was more educated’

Emily Crane
·3 min read
20

Two Columbia University students who rushed to join NYU’s violent anti-Israel rally are going viral after admitting they had no idea what the protest was about — and wished they were “more educated.”

The unidentified students rattled off their clueless rationale on the steps of the NYU campus in downtown Manhattan as a slew of NYPD cops clad in riot gear stood in the background, as seen in footage viewed more than 3 million times since being shared by former Mayor Rudy Giuliani late Wednesday.

“I think the main goal is just showing our support for Palestine and demanding that NYU stop … I honestly don’t know all of what NYU is doing,” one admitted when asked about the protest’s purpose.

An unnamed Columbia University student gave her bizarre rationale when she was being interviewed on the steps of the NYU campus. X / @RudyGiuliani
An unnamed Columbia University student gave her bizarre rationale when she was being interviewed on the steps of the NYU campus. X / @RudyGiuliani
A slew of NYPD cops clad in riot gear stood in the background. X / @RudyGiuliani
A slew of NYPD cops clad in riot gear stood in the background. X / @RudyGiuliani
A group of NYU students, faculty and supporters hold signs during a rally in Washington Square Park to protest the arrests. ZUMAPRESS.com
A group of NYU students, faculty and supporters hold signs during a rally in Washington Square Park to protest the arrests. ZUMAPRESS.com

Asked if there was “something NYU is doing,” the student meekly replied: “I really don’t know, I’m pretty sure they are…”

She then turned to her friend and asked, “Do you know what NYU is doing here?”

The friend, who was wearing a face mask, then bluntly asked: “About what?”

“About Israel. Why are we protesting, here at NYU specifically?” the student asked.

“I wish I was more educated,” her friend confessed.

The person interviewing the pair continuously moved the camera back and forth to capture the ridiculous exchange.

“I’m not either. I came from Columbia. I was there up at Columbia and we came down, they said NYU needed out support,” the first student continued.

“I’ve heard there are lots of cops and people were saying it was getting dangerous.”

It wasn’t immediately clear when the interview took place, but it emerged just days after the NYPD descended on NYU Monday night to help clear a tent encampment there.

At one point, she turned to her friend (above) to ask if she knew why NYU was protesting — with the friend responding: “About what?” X / @RudyGiuliani
At one point, she turned to her friend (above) to ask if she knew why NYU was protesting — with the friend responding: “About what?” X / @RudyGiuliani
More than 100 NYU student and faculty protesters were arrested Monday night when cops moved in to clear the encampment. AP
More than 100 NYU student and faculty protesters were arrested Monday night when cops moved in to clear the encampment. AP
NYPD officers face protesters after detaining demonstrators and clearing an encampment set up by pro-Palestinian students and protesters on NYU’s campus. AFP via Getty Images
NYPD officers face protesters after detaining demonstrators and clearing an encampment set up by pro-Palestinian students and protesters on NYU’s campus. AFP via Getty Images

More than 100 student and faculty protesters were arrested during the ordeal that saw cops pelted with bottles and one officer struck in the head with a chair.

The students, who were demanding their own school divest holdings tied to Israel over the war in Gaza, created their own “tent city” in solidarity with the sprawling, disruptive encampment set up at Columbia University.