By Brendan Scanland
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Cleanup efforts are underway near the U.S. Capitol after several statues and other landmarks were graffitied during pro-Palestinian protests on Wednesday.
Protests broke out yesterday as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a joint address to Congress. Thousands of demonstrators marched near the Capitol and called for Netanyahu’s arrest, a ceasefire in Gaza and an end to U.S. aid for Israel.
Several arrests were reported after some clashes with law enforcement.
Demonstrations escalated in the afternoon near Union Station, where some protesters spray painted statues, set fires and even burned an American flag.
“At best, it’s the worst of bad middle school behavior that is thuggish in its singular purpose, which is to just be little jerks,” said Rep. Jack Bergman (R- MI). “In the words of Prime Minister Netanyahu, he used the phrase yesterday, ‘useful idiots.’ Well, the people doing this are pretty much useful idiots.”
A group of House Republicans walked to Union Station Wednesday night to raise an American flag after the original was torn down, burned and replaced with a Palestinian flag earlier in the day.
“They flew Palestinian flags on these poles today. It is outrageous. They were pulled down thankfully. The people we represent want these flags to be flown here. We believe in this country. It is the greatest nation in the history of the world, it’s the strongest, most powerful, most benevolent, most free nation that has ever been,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson (R- LA). “We should stand for that and stand with our allies and for freedom. That’s what this flag represents.”
The violence, vandalism and pro-Hamas rhetoric exhibited Wednesday afternoon was strongly condemned by many Democrats as well.
“Americans have the right to peacefully protest, but the glorification and celebration of a terrorist group like Hamas is dangerous and unacceptable. I condemn this in the strongest possible terms,” said Senator Bob Casey (D- PA) on X, formerly Twitter.
“What happened at Union Station was vile, offensive, wrong. Hamas is a terrorist organization. Exalting them and burning Union Station’s American flag is disgraceful. Defacing public property is illegal. Hateful, antisemitic messages and threats against Jews have no place here,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D- NY).
“I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation,” said Vice President Kamala Harris in a statement Thursday. “I condemn 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.”
Cleanup crews said it could take days to remove some of the graffiti.