In a statement released on Wednesday, Vice President Kamala Harris expressed her condemnation of the protesters who burned an American flag and showed their support for Hamas near the U.S. Capitol. The demonstrators were protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress. Harris stated that such actions have no place in the country and that hate and violence should not be tolerated in any form.
As the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, Harris has strongly condemned the protestors who participated in “despicable acts” and used “dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric.”
In a statement released by her office, the vice president expressed her strong condemnation towards any individuals who associate themselves with the ruthless terrorist organization Hamas. The group has openly declared its intentions to wipe out the State of Israel and eradicate Jews, making any pro-Hamas graffiti or rhetoric unacceptable and intolerable in our country. She went on to condemn the burning of the American flag, stating that the flag is a representation of the highest ideals of America and embodies the promise of the nation. Such desecration of the flag should never be allowed to occur.
Protesters clashed with police near the Capitol on Wednesday, demonstrating against U.S. support for Israel. The group eventually made their way to Union Station, the main train hub in the capital. In a bold move, some protesters scaled the flagpoles outside the station and replaced the American flags with Palestinian ones. Shockingly, one American flag was even set on fire under an effigy of Netanyahu.
According to the U.S. Park Police, a group of individuals failed to disperse on Wednesday afternoon outside the train station resulting in the arrest of at least eight people. The police reported that the crowd caused extensive damage to park property. This included vandalizing statues and fountains, tearing down and burning flags, and starting multiple small fires.
During his address to a joint meeting of Congress inside the Capitol, Netanyahu remained unyielding in his defense of Israel’s war in Gaza. The conflict was triggered by the Hamas attacks on Israel on Oct. 7. The Israeli Prime Minister expressed gratitude towards the Biden administration for their unwavering support towards Israel. He also criticized the pro-Hamas protesters, referring to them as “useful idiots.”
In the evening, a few Republican lawmakers joined hands to hoist new American flags outside Union Station as replacements for the ones that were previously torn down.
Kamala Harris made a statement expressing her stance on peaceful protests. She affirmed her support for the right to peaceful protests but made it clear that there is no room for hate, violence, and antisemitism in the country.
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