Counter-protesters at George Washington University (GWU) were seen holding a giant American flag over the school’s pro-Palestinian camp on Friday afternoon, according to a video program.
Video footage posted on Twitter shows the moment a giant American flag was raised over a pro-Palestinian encampment in the U-yard section of the school. Three men were seen securing the flag on top of one of the school buildings as some pro-Palestinian protesters could be heard trying to draw attention away from the flag. (Related article: “USA! USA!”: Patriotic college students push back against pro-Palestinian protesters)
📍George Washington University
Three men unfurled a giant American flag in the U-yard
They were booed and called “bastards” by protesters and camp organizers. @BorderHawkNews pic.twitter.com/bZQFKL9WAx
— Wid Lyman (@Wid_Lyman) May 3, 2024
The counter-protesters’ move came a day after pro-Palestinian protesters were seen removing the GW flag from the school and replacing it with the Palestinian national flag. Video footage showed activists holding Palestinian flags on poles and cheering as drums blared. In response to the incident, the school released The statement condemned the movements of pro-Palestinian demonstrators as “illegal”.
𝐍𝐄𝐖: Three American patriots raise an American flag on a building in front of the grounds of George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where a pro-Palestinian encampment has been set up.
Anti-Israel demonstrators booed and shouted abuse… pic.twitter.com/OH4jYvIp0u
— RedWave Press (@RedWave_Press) May 3, 2024
“Today, protesters illegally removed the GW flag that had been flown on campus grounds and replaced it with the Palestinian flag, an act that violates D.C. law and university policy,” GW Police said. They attempted to stop the illegal activity and instructed the flag-waving demonstrators to stop. During the intervention, officers were surrounded by a crowd shouting hostile chants, preventing further escalation of the volatile situation. “We were forced to retreat in order to protect ourselves. Another flag was then raised below the American flag on a nearby pole,” the school said.
At this time, neither the Palestinian flag nor the GW flag is being flown on the school’s flag pole.
Protesters on campus have been demonstrating for nine days, joined by other schools across the country, demanding that universities divest funding from companies with ties to Israel. Earlier this week, students from the University of California, Los Angeles, set up an encampment that ended with LAPD officers and California Highway Patrol officers arresting more than 200 protesters.
