Pro-Palestine protesters in Washington, DC, were arrested as activists were seen tearing down the American flag displayed outside Union Station and replacing it with a Palestinian flag on Wednesday and burning the US flag on the ground. This move occurred after a rally was held at noon in a nearby park, where demonstrators stood behind a large banner reading “Save Israel from Bibi.”
The protests coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to DC, where he delivered an address before a joint session of Congress. Protesters flooded the streets around the Capitol, waving Palestinian flags, and even a Hamas flag was seen among the crowd.
The rally near Union Station was organized by UnXeptable, a group made up of Israeli expatriates, according to the Washington Post. One of the group’s speakers, Rabbi Jill Jacobs, called on US political leaders to save the hostages but also to “save Israel and its democracy.”
“We’re here today to say we refuse to let a small number of zealots, including Benjamin Netanyahu, destroy the state of Israel,” Jacobs said. “We’re here to tell Netanyahu that he and his fascist politics are not welcome here in the United States or in Israel.”
Protesters in DC were on display burning an American flag while chanting "Allahu Akbar." They also burned an effigy of Netanyahu.
During one flag burning, a man attempted to rush toward the fire and rescue the American flag. However, protesters immeditely began screaming "Get him" and "Get the white guy" and chased him off, according to the New York Post.
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