The incident at Columbia University in New York City involved pro-Palestinian student protesters taking over a building, with the help of an outsider identified as Lisa Fithian, a veteran activist and professional agitator. Fithian has been involved in high-profile protests for around 50 years, including shutting down the CIA, disrupting the World Trade Organization’s meeting, and supporting communities in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. While she denied organizing the protests at Columbia, New York officials believe she may have played a role in training the protesters in tactics used to occupy Hamilton Hall.
Following the takeover of Hamilton Hall, New York Mayor Eric Adams and Columbia President Nemat Shafik blamed outside actors for the action, indicating that some individuals leading the group were not affiliated with the university. Though it is unclear how many of the 280 people arrested were not students or faculty members, one person had an arrest history dating back to 2005. Fithian, described as a nonviolent direct action trainer in a video posted in April, has gained media attention for her activism over the years, with reports highlighting her involvement in various protests both in the U.S. and abroad.
The incident at Columbia has raised questions about the role of outside actors in directing the student-led protest movement, with supporters pushing back against the suggestion. While Fithian was seen in a video instructing protesters on tactics, she denied organizing the protests and claimed it was absurd to suggest otherwise. Mayor Adams referred to an outside agitator with a history of escalating situations in his comments, and Columbia’s president noted that the group involved in the building seizure included individuals not affiliated with the university, though the basis for this assertion was not provided.
Fithian’s history of activism includes participating in a wide range of demonstrations for various causes, from anti-racism to anti-war efforts, and from environmental activism to human rights issues. She has been arrested multiple times for her activism, with her work drawing attention from media outlets and other organizations. Her role in training protesters in nonviolent direct action tactics has been acknowledged, though there is no indication she was paid to attend the Columbia protest. The situation at Columbia University remains complex, with ongoing debates about the involvement of outside actors in the student-led movement and the broader impact on campus activism.
