Pro-Hamas protestors who demonstrated outside the U.S. Capitol while Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress pulled down several American flags flying at nearby Union Station and set them alight. The American flags were replaced by Palestinian flags, which were hoisted up the flag poles outside the major transportation hub.
Several hundred demonstrators gathered on the National Mall in what began as a relatively calm protest. It turned aggressively violent after the Israeli prime minister finished his speech. Police are reported to have made several dozen arrests as law enforcement clashed with the protestors.
The pro-Hamas demonstrators—some of whom have flown the Hamas flag—continued to taunt the police outside the major Washington, D.C. transportation hub.
A man who claimed to be a local attorney ran into the heart of the protest, grabbed one of the burning flags, and proceeded to try to sprint past the protestors. One pro-Hamas demonstrator was able to chase him down and take back most of the burning flag. However, the attorney did make it out of the scrum, having preserved a small corner of Old Glory.
WATCH:
🚨#BREAKING: Absolute chaos is unfolding as Pro-Palestine protesters have taken down the three American flags and burning them at Union Station and replaced them with Palestinian flags.
⁰📌#Washington | #DC ⁰
Currently, absolute chaos is unfolding as thousands of Pro-Palestine… pic.twitter.com/lTMdjY3hv8— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) July 24, 2024