An anarchist website called CrimethInc.com has been encouraging anti-Israel student protesters to escalate their violent demonstrations by arming themselves, hijacking buildings, and using the protests as a “movement against the police.” The website describes itself as a “rebel alliance” and provides analyses of protests erupting on US campuses to advise students on how to up the ante. The website encourages dynamic responses and meeting the police head-on rather than remaining peaceful or passive.
The website offers tactical advice on how to prepare for protests, such as making barricades out of materials like lumber, metal sheeting, garbage cans, and water barrels. It also discourages students from negotiating with college administrators, as the website alleges that negotiations can delay police raids and diminish the ability to fend off confrontation. Instead, it urges students to engage with administrators strategically when reinforcements are on the way and time is advantageous to the protesters.
In a troubling analysis, the website suggests that the pro-Palestinian movement should be viewed as a movement against the police. It advises students to take over buildings to sow chaos and retain control in confrontations with law enforcement. The website equates the police militarization with Israeli military actions and urges students to come prepared to demonstrations with protective gear such as goggles, gas masks, laser pointers, and shields.
Recent events at Columbia University and City College in New York City involved over 300 arrests of students and non-students in response to anti-Israel encampments on campus. Mayor Eric Adams has referred to those arrested as “outside agitators” and demanded that universities help fund the increased law enforcement operations to prevent further escalating costs. Adams suggests a zero-tolerance policy towards the encampments to prevent them from expanding and causing more strife on the grounds of universities.
The online guidance provided by CrimethInc.com reflects a growing trend of more confrontational tactics being used in student protests against Israeli policies on college campuses. The website’s encouragement of arming students and seizing buildings to challenge police intervention aligns with a broader call for direct action and resistance against perceived oppressive forces. The escalation in tactics and clashes with law enforcement at various universities raise concerns about the potential impact on campus safety and the effectiveness of non-violent protest strategies.
Overall, the content on CrimethInc.com appears to be aimed at radicalizing student protesters and encouraging them to take more aggressive actions in their demonstrations. By framing the protests as a movement against the police and emphasizing confrontation rather than negotiation or peaceful tactics, the website is promoting escalation in protests. The recent incidents at Columbia University and other campuses indicate a shift towards more intense and disruptive forms of activism, which may have significant implications for the safety and effectiveness of protests on college campuses.
