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The White House condemned “disgraceful” protests in Washington, DC, where demonstrators removed and burned American flags outside Union Station as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed lawmakers.
White House Statement: In a statement, White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates said, “Identifying with evil terrorist organizations like Hamas, burning the American flag, or forcibly removing the American flag and replacing it with another, is disgraceful. Antisemitism and violence are never acceptable. Period. Every American has the right to peaceful protest. But shamefully, not everyone demonstrated peacefulness today.”
What happened: During Prime Minister Netanyahu’s address to Congress, protesters took down the American flag, replaced it with a Palestinian flag, and set the US flag on fire. A nearby lawyer intervened, removing the burning flag from the crowd. In addition to burning US flags, protesters also vandalized various monuments and statues.
Condemnation from Republicans & Democrats: A bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats condemned the vandalism and burning of US flags by protesters. House Speaker Mike Johnson specifically referred to those who burned the flags while wearing pro-Hamas apparel as “terrorists,” while Congressman Peter Stauber called them “Iran’s useful idiots.”
Arrests: According to DC Metro police, at least 23 people were arrested on Wednesday. The majority of those arrested were released and ultimately not charged.
Netanyahu addresses protestors: During his address to Congress, Prime Minister Netanyahu directly addressed the protesters, saying, “I have a message for these protesters. When the tyrants of Tehran, who hang gays from cranes and murder women for not covering their hair, are praising, promoting, and funding you, you have officially become Iran’s useful idiots.”
