Basil Rodriguez, a 24-year-old master’s student in American Studies at Columbia University, has been an active participant in campus extremism, particularly focusing on issues surrounding Hamas and the Palestinian people. When taking into consideration Rodriguez’s attraction to the terrorist lifestyle, one must look at her family. Her grandfather’s origins as someone from the West Bank, who may have ties to terror himself, definitely influenced her perspectives on social justice and advocacy.

Basil Rodriguez’s Arrest and Extremism

On April 30, 2024, Rodriguez was arrested during a protest outside Hamilton Hall, organized to demand that Columbia University divest from companies conducting business with Israel. They were among several students charged with criminal trespassing. Rodriguez expressed anger at Columbia’s continued financial ties to companies involved in what they described as “oppressive systems.” Their activism is closely associated with extremist groups like Columbia Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), whom both justify the horrific acts carried out by US-designated terrorist organization Hamas.

Since October 2023, Rodriguez has participated in protests that have been alive with antisemitic sentiments, support for terrorists and have cause damage to public property. Her “advocacy” has only highlighted a passionate commitment hate and division.

Generations of Radicalization

Rodriguez’s activism reflects a generational legacy of extremism, as her mother, Ann Marie, was also a terrorist supporter during her university years. Their personal identity and family background play a significant role in shaping their approach to advocacy, making their influence extremely dangerous for people who may oppose them.