Eric Adams warns of 'movement' to radicalize young people: 'Global problem' (original) (raw)

FILE - New York City Mayor Eric Adams speaks during a news conference at City Hall, Dec. 12, 2023, in New York. (AP Photo/Peter K. Afriyie, File)

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Eric AdamsRadicalizeNew York CityProtestsCollege campusesIsrael-Hamas warAmerican flagAntisemitism

NEW YORK CITY (TND) — New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday issued a grave warning for the U.S. as protests surrounding the Israel-Hamas war heat up on college campuses.

These demonstrations have hit campuses nationwide over the last two weeks. Over 100 individuals have been arrested at Columbia University in New York City, with police clearing student protesters off campus Tuesday evening after they occupied an academic building.

Adams warned during a media briefing with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) such a growing movement could be used to “radicalize” America’s students.

"There is a movement to radicalize young people, and I'm not going to wait until it's done and all of a sudden acknowledge the existence of it,” Adams said. “This is a global problem that young people are being influenced by those who are professionals at radicalizing our children, and I'm not going to allow that to happen as the mayor of the City of New York."

Continuing, Adams shared his disappointment at protesters who desecrate the American flag. Protesters at the University of North Carolina this week attempted to replace the flag with a Palestinian flag, but they were stopped by a group of fraternity members who guarded the flagpole. Similar incidents have also taken place in New York City.

READ MORE |Congressman praises frat for defending US flag from protesters: 'Next round on me, boys'

“That's our flag folks,” Adams said. “That may be fine to other people, but it's not to me. My uncle died defending this country, and these men and women put their lives on the line. It's despicable that schools will allow another country flag to fly in our country. So blame me for being proud to be an American.”

Adams is not the only major politician to voice such concerns. House lawmakers on Wednesday voted to pass a bill broadening the definition of antisemitism for use in discrimination cases. The measure would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism contained in the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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