House Republicans visited Union Station late Wednesday night to raise the American flag that anti-Israel protesters burned earlier in the day and replaced with a Palestinian flag.
House Speaker Mike Johnson spoke to reporters as the American flag was raised again and anti-Israel protesters flooded the nation’s capital as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress.
At Union Station, protesters removed all three American flags flying outside the historic subway transit hub, replacing them with Palestinian flags and burning at least one of the American flags. Protesters also covered a nearby monument with graffiti.
“I am aware that the Palestinian flag was flying at the polling station. It is outrageous,” Johnson said. “Thankfully the flag has been taken down.”
Protesters chant ‘Free Palestine’ as Netanyahu speaks to parliament
House Republicans visited Union Station late Wednesday night to raise the American flag that anti-Israel protesters burned earlier in the day and replaced with a Palestinian flag. (@RichieMcGinniss via X)
Footage shows deputies, assisted by police, carrying American flags and backing up three polling places.
Harris boycotts Netanyahu, ignores Israeli leader’s wartime speech and speaks at sorority house
Democratic Party Chairman Hakeem Jeffries also condemned the protests in a statement Thursday.
“Damaging public property, desecrating the American flag, threatening Jewish people with violence, and encouraging terrorist groups like Hamas are not acceptable under any circumstances. There is a difference between lawful expression and disorderly conduct, and those who violate the law must be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law,” Jeffries wrote.
A man passing by a protest said he was Jewish and took offense at the remarks, after which he was chased down the street and yelled at by agitators, who called him “Hitler.” He and a woman were then forced into a building to escape the protesters. When Fox News reporters asked why they were chasing the man, one of them replied that it was because he was white and Jewish.
Pro-Palestinian protesters burned a US flag at Union Station during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the US on July 24, 2024. Addressing a war-divided US Congress, Netanyahu condemned Gaza ceasefire protesters and called for a global alliance against the Iranian regime, which he accuses of funding them. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP via Getty Images)
Earlier in the day, hundreds of protesters had gathered outside the Gallery of Art at Pennsylvania Avenue and Third Street. Organizers of the protest included the Answer Coalition. Code PinkA number of speakers attended from various organisations, including the Party for Socialism and Liberation.
‘Chicken for KFC’: Netanyahu slams ceasefire activists in parliament speech while Tlaib protests silently
In a statement on social media, Prime Minister Johnson condemned the protesters as “terrorists”.
The U.S. Capitol Police argued that the flag at Union Station is outside their jurisdiction and therefore not protected.
Click here to get the FOX News app
“None of our protected flags have been removed or destroyed, and our officers will enforce the law if anyone attempts to remove the flag within USCP jurisdiction and to eliminate inaccurate reporting,” the agency said in a statement.
Fox News reporter Megan Toome and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
