The protest at Columbia University on Thursday included individuals from privileged backgrounds, including an intern for the New York State Attorney General and the daughter of a prominent UPS executive. Many of the protesters come from wealthy families and reside in multimillion-dollar mansions, with some being students at Barnard College or career activists with prior arrests. Among those arrested were Isra Hirsi, daughter of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, and Isabel Jennifer Seward, daughter of a UPS executive involved in a fatal accident as a teenager.
Isabel Seward was involved in a fatal accident in 2020 at the age of 16, where she killed an elderly couple in Vermont with her truck. She received a minor fine for a traffic violation and was later removed from the Columbia campus during the protest. Another protester, Avery Reed, worked as an intern for Letitia James and on “gender equality” for the Biden-Harris campaign in 2021. She also hosts a podcast for the Columbia Daily Spectator and has connections to Governor Kathy Hochul.
Isabella Guisti, another protester, comes from a wealthy family in Savannah, Georgia, owning a $3 million home in the city’s historic district. Mia Roque, a Barnard student and member of the Columbia University College Democrats, has attended lobbying trips to Washington, DC, and will intern for Illinois Senator Dick Durbin this summer. Alvin Dan, a repeat protester with 10 arrests since 2020, was among those arrested at the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade last year for protest activity.
Alvin Dan has a history of arrests, including resisting arrest, and was involved in an incident where a Jewish conservative journalist accused him of discrimination at a Brooklyn bar. Dan allegedly made false claims about the journalist’s behavior, leading to a lawsuit. Many of the protesters involved in the Columbia demonstration have prior experience with activism and are connected to influential individuals in politics and media. Despite their privileged backgrounds, they are using their platform to advocate for causes such as Palestinian rights and social justice.
The arrests at Columbia highlight the diverse backgrounds and motivations of those involved in the protest, ranging from students to activists with extensive arrest records. Despite their privileged backgrounds, these individuals are passionate about advocating for causes they believe in, including Palestinian rights and social justice. The deep dive into their backgrounds sheds light on the complexities of activism and protest in today’s society, where individuals from various backgrounds come together to advocate for change.
