Video shows a man self-immolating during an anti-Israel rally in front of the White House on Saturday evening.
The man was identified as Samuel Mena Jr., a former journalist from Phoenix, Arizona, the paper said. 12 News. He was later hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. The incident occurred just days before the first anniversary of the massacre of Israeli civilians by Hamas that triggered the current war in Gaza.
Footage circulating on social media showed Mena screaming in agony as her left arm suffered burns. Bystanders and Metropolitan Police Department officers worked together to extinguish the fire and rescue the protesters.
“We spread misinformation,” Mena can be heard shouting in the video. “I'm a journalist, so I said okay!”
Mena reportedly posted an essay on his website explaining his motivations for participating in this type of protest. in postMena criticized the media for lacking objectivity regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “And now Israel is advancing into Lebanon, and Western media is calling this a “limited ground operation,'' without mentioning Israel. [sic] Bombing operations are also taking place in Syria and Yemen,” he wrote. (Related: Airman who committed suicide by setting himself on fire showed more red flags than a Soviet parade)
At the end of his post, he explained why he planned to set his left arm on fire. “To the 10,000 children in Gaza who have lost limbs in this conflict, I dedicate my left arm. I pray that my voice will lift yours and that your smile will never fade.” he wrote.
Self-immolation attempt at anti-Israel protests in Washington DC.
متظاهر يحاول إحراق نفسه في العاصمة واشنطن في مظاهرة ضد العدوان الاسرائيل ي pic.twitter.com/zlrs1Booyt— Tarek Abu Ghazala (@tarekmd) October 5, 2024
According to his website, Mena is a graduate of the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication and previously worked as a news cameraman for Arizona Family (KPHO/KTVK) for about two years.
Anti-Israel demonstrators have held similar demonstrations across the country, especially on university campuses, since the war began.
