House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and other Republican members of Congress late July 24 replaced American flags that were taken down and burned by protesters protesting against Israel’s actions against Palestine.
Video footage from Washington showed Mr. Johnson and colleagues saying the Pledge of Allegiance after the flags were raised on top of flagpoles at Union Station, a transportation hub in the nation’s capital.
“Earlier today, pro-Hamas protesters took down the American flags at Union Station, burned them and raised Palestinian flags. Tonight, we righted their wrong. American flags are once again flying over Union Station,” Mr. Johnson said in a statement. “We will not let the terrorist mob win.”
Pro-Palestinian protesters climbed the flagpoles in the afternoon and replaced the American flags with Palestinian flags. Footage and pictures showed protesters burning both U.S. and Israeli flags in Washington as Israel’s prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, delivered a speech to Congress.
Mr. Netanyahu told members that Israel, in fighting against Hamas terrorists in Palestine, “are not only protecting ourselves, we’re protecting you.”
Many lawmakers expressed support for Mr. Netanyahu through applause but Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), a Palestine-American, held a sign that called Mr. Netanyahu a war criminal guilty of genocide. Some other Democrats chose not to attend the speech.
Protestors elsewhere in the nation’s capital held similar signs, with at least one Hamas flag and several pro-Hamas graffiti messages left on structures.
Protesters called for U.S. officials to stop supplying aid to Israel, and some said the state of Israel should be eliminated.
Police officers wearing helmets and carrying riot shields clashed with the protesters and arrested nine people, including five on charges of crowding.
A 15-year-old was arrested for assaulting an officer in front of Union Station while three were also arrested for assaulting a police officer and crossing a police line in Columbus Circle, outside Union Station.
Union Station is about half a mile from the U.S. Capitol.
A U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) spokesperson told news outlets: “No flags under our protection have been removed or vandalized. Our officers will enforce the law if anyone attempts to remove a flag in USCP jurisdiction.”
Some members of both parties condemned protesters for tagging structures with graffiti and promoting Hamas.
“Defacing public property, desecrating the American flag, threatening Jews with violence and promoting terrorist groups like Hamas is not acceptable under any circumstance,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) said in a statement.
“There is a difference between lawful expression and disorderly conduct. Anyone who violates the law must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
