Outside agitator

Nowadays, Outside agitator is a topic that has gained great importance in today's society. For years, Outside agitator has been the subject of debate, analysis and reflection in different areas, from politics to popular culture. However, in recent times, interest in Outside agitator has grown exponentially, becoming a highly relevant topic in public conversation. Whether due to its impact on people's daily lives, its influence on the development of technology or its role in the evolution of human thought, Outside agitator has become a fundamental element to take into account in modern society. In this article, we will explore different aspects related to Outside agitator, analyzing its influence, its implications and its relevance in today's world.

Outside agitator is a term that has been used to discount political unrest as being driven by outsiders, rather than by internal discontent. The term was popularized during the early stages of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, when Southern authorities discounted African-American protests as being driven by Northern white radicals, rather than being legitimate expressions of grievances.[1][2]

Martin Luther King Jr. criticized the term in Letter from Birmingham Jail, citing it as a phrase designed to dismiss civil disobedience.[3]

The term gained further prominence during the George Floyd protests, with local officials in Minneapolis claiming that most protesters were not from the city, despite jail records and social media indicating otherwise.[4] The term was also used during the Ferguson unrest in 2014.[5]

The term saw wide use by public figures and media coverage during the 2024 pro-Palestinian protests on university campuses. The term was used to dismiss student protests by claiming that they'd been coopted by foreign actors rather than acting organically.[6] After clearing out the 2024 Columbia University pro-Palestinian campus occupation, New York police deputy commissioner Tarik Sheppard claimed that the chains of bike locks sold by Columbia University were "not what students bring to school" to support the claim that outside agitators were responsible for students locking themselves in Hamilton Hall.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Cindy Milstein (October 21, 2015). Taking Sides: Revolutionary Solidarity and the Poverty of Liberalism. AK Press. pp. 113–. ISBN 978-1-84935-232-1.
  2. ^ Leslie Vincent Tischauser (1998). Black/white Relations in American History: An Annotated Bibliography. Scarecrow Press. pp. 93–. ISBN 978-0-8108-3389-0.
  3. ^ King, Jr., Martin Luther (April 16, 1963). "Letter from a Birmingham Jail". University of Pennsylvania African Studies Center. Retrieved February 22, 2025.
  4. ^ Brett Murphy; Josh Salman; Dak Le (May 31, 2020). "Officials blame 'out-of-state' agitators but those at the heart of protests are homegrown". USA Today. Retrieved June 2, 2020.
  5. ^ "Unmasking The 'Outside Agitator'". NPR. June 10, 2020. Retrieved March 26, 2021.
  6. ^ Jake Offenhartz (May 1, 2024). "A retired teacher saw inspiration in Columbia's protests. Eric Adams called her an outside agitator". Associated Press. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
  7. ^ Zachary Leeman (May 1, 2024). "NY Police Deputy Commissioner Brings Chains Used By Columbia 'Agitators' Into Morning Joe Studio, Claims It's 'Not What Students Bring to School'". Mediaite. Retrieved May 2, 2024.
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