Mayor Adams, NYPD blame 'outside agitators' for pro-Hamas demonstrations at Columbia

Sergeant Joseph Imperatrice, founder of Blue Lives Matter NYC, warned that protests like the anti-Israel encampment at Columbia University can create a dangerous situation for police officers.

Appearing on "Fox & Friends First" on Wednesday morning, Imperatrice said the experience for cops dealing with protesters is "always disgusting." 

"It's very easy to get hut and you're getting people that try to push you and shove you and cross the line so that you do something wrong. There's cameras everywhere," Imperatrice said. "It's not easy for them, but they have shown the utmost respect and restraint, and they're going to continue to do it." 

Imperatrice also said he agreed with New York City Mayor Eric Adams that outside agitators appear to be the ones escalating the protests and throwing bottles at police officers.

"They do come here, they're coordinated. They're orchestrated," he said, adding later that the protests are also happening in other states, not just New York. 

"And we're seeing them stop airports, stop traffic. You don't do this unless you're on some kind of system to be able to coordinate with one another."