People burning American flags and accusing Netanyahu of being a ‘war criminal’ at Congress meeting.
Anti-Israel demonstrators made their presence known in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday amidst Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress, resulting in a chaotic scene that unfolded with intensity.
At Union Station, protesters burned an American flag and defaced a Christopher Columbus statue with the ominous message “Hamas is coming.” They also took down the American flag, replacing it with the Palestinian flag in a bold statement of their cause.
The US Capitol Police clarified that no flags under their protection were removed or vandalized, reassuring the public of their commitment to enforcing the law within their jurisdiction. The incident at Union Station, where the American flag was removed, did not occur on the U.S. Capitol Grounds.
Social media captured a heroic act of a bystander attempting to save the American flag from being burned at Union Station. Despite protesters chasing after the man and forcibly taking the flag from him, he proudly displayed a fragment of it in a poignant picture later shared online.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., reacted decisively to a photo depicting a protester holding a Hamas flag, succinctly labeling them as “Terrorists” in response.
Earlier in the day, hundreds of protesters congregated on Pennsylvania Avenue and 3rd Street, in a demonstration orchestrated by groups such as Answer Coalition and Code Pink, featuring speakers from various organizations, including the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
Throughout the protests, slogans and signs displayed messages condemning Israel’s actions, demanding an end to US aid, and calling for a halt to the violence. However, the crowd’s chants of “From the river to the sea…” veered into the realm of antisemitism, advocating for the dismantling of the state of Israel.
Representative Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., made a vocal statement with a sign labeling Netanyahu as a ‘war criminal’ during his address, further amplifying the tension in an already charged atmosphere.
As tensions escalated, clashes with law enforcement ensued, culminating in the arrests of several individuals who disrupted the proceedings during Netanyahu’s speech. Police officers utilized pepper spray to contain the situation, leading to a series of confrontations as protesters clashed with authorities.
The demonstrators intensified their demands as the day progressed, marching towards the Capitol building and calling for a “student intifada” while chanting slogans denouncing Netanyahu and the Israeli government.
Despite efforts by law enforcement to maintain order, the protests persisted, with demonstrators demonstrating resilience and determination to make their voices heard. The atmosphere grew increasingly charged as the day wore on, with clashes between protesters and police escalating.
The events culminated in the US Park Police revoking the protest permit at Columbus Circle due to criminal activity and confrontations with law enforcement. Authorities urged protesters to disperse and deescalate the situation, underscoring the escalating tensions that marked the day of protests in the nation’s capital.
