Graffiti covers the Columbus Memorial Fountain at Union Station during a anti-Israel protest on the day Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addresses a joint session of Congress on Capitol Hill, in Washington, July 24, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Seth Herald)
Anti-Israel protests – which quickly turned violent – erupted during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress on Wednesday.
Vandals spray-painted Washington, D.C. landmarks with pro-Hamas slogans such as “Free Gaza” and “All Zionists are Bastards.”
The Freedom Bell – a replica of the Liberty Bell – was defaced with inverted red triangles and messages that read, “Abolish the USA.”
“Hamas is Coming” was spray-painted in red across the face of the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain at Union Station, according to photographs published by the Palestinian Assembly for Liberation-Awda.
American flags at Union Station were pulled down from their poles and replaced with Palestinian flags, according to a video posted on Instagram by the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM). Agitators then set the U.S. flags on fire.
Later that night, Congressman Dan Crenshaw posted on 𝕏 that he and other House members, along with the Capitol Police, raised new American flags after the incident.
PYM footage showed a figure of Netanyahu aflame and a flag with the face of Hamas Izz ad-Din Al-Qassam Brigades spokesman, Abu Obaida, waving near a sign proclaiming, “Bibi Netanyahu Must Hang.”
“Netanyahu, you will pay; resistance is the only way!” chanted some demonstrators. “There is only one solution, Intifada revolution!”
One woman wore a Hamas headband over a keffiyeh, while FOX News photographed another woman with the Al-Qassam Brigades logo on her jacket shoulder, a pin with an image of Abu Obaida’s face, and a Hamas flag in her hand. Another protester marched through Washington’s streets carrying a Hezbollah flag.
“Protesters are on every street, and police are scrambling to respond,” claimed protest organizers on a Telegram channel.
Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith said in a statement on Wednesday that her forces had arrested five protesters for blocking traffic flow near the intersection of 4th Street and Independence Avenue.
“A few hours later, MPD arrested and charged two people for assaulting a police officer after they pushed MPD officers during the protest at Columbus Circle. MPD officers also arrested and charged two additional people for crossing a police line after an officer was assaulted,” Smith stated.
The violence continued as protesters pushed against a line of Capitol Police, demanding, “Let us through!”
The Capitol Police responded with pepper spray, later posting on 𝕏: “The crowd failed to obey our order to move back from our police line.”
“While many people chose to peacefully exercise their first amendment rights in our city, some choose to disobey the law,” Smith said.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris issued a statement on Thursday condemning the burning of the American flag.
“That flag is a symbol of our highest ideals as a nation and represents the promise of America. It should never be desecrated in that way.”
