During the recent unrest at Columbia University and City College, it has come to light that several of the anti-Israel protestors arrested have a history of violence and criminal behavior. Among the arrestees, Rudy Ralph Martinez, 32, was found to be a serial protester on the anti-Israel front, with a particular affinity for Hamas. Martinez, who was apprehended at CUNY’s Harlem campus on a burglary charge, had previously expressed his admiration for the deadly Hamas terror attack on Israel that occurred on October 7. In a video circulating on social media, Martinez can be seen smirking as he describes the attack as “one of the greatest days of my life” and proclaiming his support for the resistance.
Martinez’s extensive history of protest-related arrests dates back to 2012 in California, and in New York City alone, he has been arrested multiple times for disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, obstruction, and refusal to disperse. It is believed that Martinez may currently be employed at CUNY after recently graduating from the institution.
Another individual arrested during the unrest, James Carlson, 40, has a lengthy track record of protest-related violence. Carlson, who was taken into custody at Columbia University’s Hamilton Hall on a burglary charge, is known to be a long-time figure in the anarchist world and antigovernmental extremist circles. In 2005, Carlson was involved in a violent political protest in San Francisco, where he was charged with suspicion of attempted lynching and aggravated assault on a police officer. During the incident, Carlson and others allegedly set upon an officer, leaving him with a severe head injury. The outcome of the charges in that case is currently unknown. More recently, Carlson was charged with burning an Israeli flag belonging to a Jewish protester outside Columbia University on April 21. He has been charged with criminal mischief, criminal possession of stolen property, and arson in relation to that incident.
Jacob Isaac Gabriel, 27, another protestor arrested at CUNY, also has a history of protest-related arrests. Gabriel is known to frequently appear at New York City protests wearing Black Bloc gear, which is used to conceal the identity of protestors. He was allegedly part of the group of pro-Palestine protesters who stormed the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade. Gabriel’s recent charges include resisting arrest, disorderly conduct, refusal to move, offenses against public administrators, fighting, and trespassing.
These revelations come as police sources disclose that over 40% of the individuals arrested during the on-campus unrest were not affiliated with either Columbia University or CUNY. Mayor Eric Adams had previously warned about the influence of “outside agitators” radicalizing young individuals. Out of the 282 protesters apprehended during the NYPD operation, 134 had no affiliation with the schools.
1 Response
The recent unrest at Columbia University and City College can be likened to a turbulent storm brewing on a calm sea. Within this storm, it has been revealed that some of the anti-Israel protestors arrested have a history of violence and criminal behavior, acting as hidden lightning strikes within the chaos.