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Protesters Tear Down American Flag, Burn It, Raise Palestinian Flag During Netanyahu Visit

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Robert McGreevy Reporter
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Pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel protesters burned the American flag at the nation’s capital during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s state visit Wednesday. The activists later replaced it with the Palestinian flag, video captured by the Daily Caller shows.

Chaos ensued in Washington, D.C., as police sprayed protesters with pepper spray and protesters lit the American flag and an effigy of Netanyahu on fire.

Protesters chanted “burn that shit!” as the flag went up in flames in front of D.C.’s Union Station.

Protesters at Union Station also lowered the American flag from the large flagpole outside of the train station and replaced it with a giant Palestinian flag.

One patriotic citizen attempted to stop the protesters from burning the flag

Other protesters defaced landmarks in D.C.’s Columbus Circle, spray painting phrases like “Free Gaza” and “Hamas Is Coming,” according to images conservative commentator Katie Pavlich posted Wednesday on Twitter. (RELATED: Half Of Hill Dems Boycotted Netanyahu’s Congressional Address)

Videos from Freedom News’ Scootercaster show the moment one of the vandals starts tagging the historic landmark.


Protesters clashed with U.S. Park Police throughout the day. At one point a protester dragged an officer to the ground as he tried to make an arrest outside of Union Station.

Protests started before Netanyahu’s visit Wednesday, as protesters released insects inside the historic Watergate Hotel where Netanyahu was reportedly staying.

Netanyahu was in D.C. to address a joint session of Congress. During his address he stressed the American-Israeli partnership and called for the two countries to unite against a common enemy in Iran.

He also directly addressed the protesters, calling them useful idiots for Iran.

“For all we know, Iran is funding the anti-Israel protests that are going on right now outside this building, not that many, but they’re there, and throughout this city,” Netanyahu said. “Well, 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.”

Some of Congress’ most recognizable faces were absent for the address. Nearly half of the Hill’s Democrats were absent, including the members of the House Progressive Caucus known as “The Squad”: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rep. Jamaal Bowman of New York, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rep. Cori Bush of Minnesota.

One member of The Squad, however, was present. Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib, who descends from Palestinian ancestors, protested the speech in person, wearing a Palestinian flag pin and holding a sign which read “War Criminal.”

Her display prompted Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace to label her a “useful idiot” for Iran as well.

Overall 100 House Dems and 20 Democratic Senators were absent, according to Axios. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris were also not in attendance.

On the Republican side, only Ohio Senator J.D. Vance and Massachusetts Rep. Thomas Massie did not attend.

Vance, like Harris, is campaigning in Indiana. Massie, however, elected to forego the event so as not to appear as a “prop.”

“Today Congress will undertake political theater on behalf of the State Department. The purpose of having Netanyahu address Congress is to bolster his political standing in Israel and to quell int’l opposition to his war,” he tweeted Wednesday. “I don’t feel like being a prop so I won’t be attending,” his tweet concluded.

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