Democrats denounced demonstrators who, on Wednesday, marched through the Capitol and spray-painted historical monuments.
Political leaders condemned the pro-Palestinian demonstrations that broke out in Washington on Thursday during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to a joint session of Congress.
It was the most recent turning point in the nationwide demonstrations that have continued since Israel retaliated against Hamas’ terrorist strike in October. The Gaza Strip is now immersed in fighting, and Hamas is still holding captives there.
The demonstrators have demanded an end to hostilities and denounced the United States of America for continuing to arm and support Israel. The protesters’ detractors claim that they replicate the talking lines of a terrorist group while ignoring the current hostage situation.
Thursday saw a smaller contingent of demonstrators reappear outside the White House, where Netanyahu had separate meetings with Vice President Kamala Harris and President Joe Biden.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, both Democrats from New York, harshly denounced the demonstrators on Thursday, joining a number of Republicans who had denounced the demonstrations on Wednesday. Schumer told NBC News, “What happened at Union Station was vile, offensive, and wrong.”
In her statement, Harris denounced the “despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors” and referred to the language used by them as “dangerous and hate-fueled.”
She also denounced “the burning of the American flag” and “any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas.”
“It is unacceptable to deface public property, desecrate the American flag, threaten Jews with violence, or promote terrorist organizations like Hamas,” Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol.
The ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) Coalition started the demonstration on Wednesday, which amassed thousands of participants before Netanyahu’s speech.
The demonstrators, who were screaming and waving flags, got into altercations with Capitol Police at barriers erected close to the Capitol. The situation escalated when they got to Union Station, which was a few streets away.
Protesters pulled and burned the American flags from the flagpoles and replaced them with Palestinian flags. They also destroyed monuments in front of Union Station, a significant Amtrak stop. Witnesses claimed to have seen demonstrators in the center of Massachusetts Avenue, one of the main thoroughfares feeding a circle in front of the train station, heard many flash bangs.
Police used pepper spray on the demonstrators on many occasions, and some of them were taken into custody.
Netanyahu denounced the demonstrators and said they were “for Hamas” and nasty during his speech on Wednesday.
The prime minister stated, “From what we understand, Iran is financing the anti-Israel demonstrations that are taking place outside this building right now. Well, I have a message for these protesters.” You have officially turned into Iran’s useful fools when the despots of Tehran, who execute women for not covering their hair and hang homosexuals from cranes, are applauding, financing, and congratulating you.”
Additional organizations that opposed Netanyahu’s visit to Washington but abstained from the activities denounced by political figures included T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights, an organization that upholds Israel’s status as a Jewish state.
The Democratic Party is facing electoral difficulties as a result of the remarks made by its members endorsing Israel’s war against Hamas.
Former House Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi of California were among the almost half of congressional Democrats who did not attend Netanyahu’s speech on Wednesday.
More Democrats have urged Netanyahu in recent weeks to agree to the conditions of a cease-fire agreement that Biden announced in May in an effort to free the last Israeli and American captives held by Hamas.
