Anti-Israel agitators vandalize historic monuments in DC’s Lafayette Square

Statues of American founding fathers, US Presidents, and other historical figures were draped in Palestinian flags, keffiyeh scarves, and plastered with banners that included anti-American and anti-Israel slogans. They were also graffitied with pro-Palestinian messaging.

In the nation's historic Lafayette Park, pro-Palestinian demonstrators climbed on top of the Lafayette monument and placed a Palestinian flag into the hands of American Revolutionary War hero Gilbert du Motier, Marquis de Lafayette. Other historical figures beneath were draped in keffiyeh scarves and anti-American signage was placed all over the monument, video shows. They also graffitied the monument with the slogan, "Free Palestine."

Demonstrators also defaced the monument of Comte de Rochambeau in Lafayette Park, whose leadership was crucial to the American victory over the British at the Battle of Yorktown in 1781. They climbed on top of the monument and waved Palestinian flags as they placed one into the hands of Rochambeau, video shows.

The statues of American founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and Andrew Jackson were also defaced. Video shows a pro-Palestinian demonstrator climbing on top of the statue and draping a keffiyeh scarf over Franklin's head while Jackson's statue was vandalized with a Palestinian flag.

In addition to defacing historic US monuments, pro-Palestinian demonstrators scaled and vandalized the White House security gates. Chants of "Allahu akbar" and calls for "intifada" were heard among the group of thousands outside the White House.

Nearly one hundred thousand people attended the "National March for Palestine" in Washington D.C. on Saturday which shut down the streets as demonstrators occupied the area.