An estimated 30,000 people are protesting tonight in NYC as part of worldwide May Day protests. Most mainstream sources, of course, are talking about “a few hundred protesters”. Ah-hem, NYT. It should be clear to anyone who sees the picture above that we’re not dealing with hundreds here.

However, the NYT post did hint at one interesting thing: at least one agent provocateur in the crowd.

Officers shouted for protesters to remain on the sidewalk, but several protesters holding the banner stepped into the middle of Avenue of the Americas, where several officers — including one in plain clothes who had appeared to be marching with the crowd — tackled and arrested them.

If you’re unfamiliar with the inexcusable yet all too common tactic of using agents provocateurs, check out the video below. In it, Quebec cops pose as protesters and attempt to incite violence by throwing rocks and egging on their colleagues. Thus creating an excuse for the cops to crack down and get violent.

It’s certainly not something I would put past the NYPD. Clearly, there are plainclothes officers prowling the street. And they do some sketchy stuff, as documented in this video by Luke Rudkowski.

One more. This one is a bit subjective, but seems pretty clear that it’s a mock fight designed to incite violence. Looks like one of those arguments before a pro-wrestling match.