Protesters burn US flags, Netanyahu effigy blocks from Capitol

Protesters calling for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrest lowered and then burned U.S. flags blocks from the U.S. Capitol, raising smaller Palestinian flags in their place, after the divisive leader’s fiery address to Congress on Wednesday. 

Protesters said they briefly scuffled with police on one side of Columbus Circle, apparently prompting U.S. Park Police to revoke the permit for the protest and order protesters to leave the area shortly after 4 p.m.

The crowd mostly dispersed at that point, but not before they had taken down the U.S. flags, burned two of them, and covered a bell and statues outside Union Station with anti-Israel graffiti. “Hamas is coming” read the graffiti on one statue. 

A U.S. Park Police captain confirmed to The Hill that two of the three flags taken down from the poles outside Union Station were burned by protesters.

Videos posted online showed the crowd chanting as the flags burned, with one man running in to retrieve a flag before being chased away. Other videos showed the effigy of Netanyahu ablaze as protesters chanted “Free Palestine.”

D.C. Metropolitan Police said six protesters were arrested at the scene. At least five protesters were also arrested in the House gallery during Netanyahu’s speech, and another five were arrested while marching on Constitution Ave.

Inside the Capitol, Netanyahu used part of his nearly hour-long speech to denounce the protesters outside and on college campuses earlier this year, accusing his critics of standing “with evil” and saying they should be “ashamed of themselves.”  

“They refuse to make the simple distinction between those who target terrorists and those who target civilians, between the democratic state of Israel and the terrorist thugs of Hamas,” Netanyahu declared. 

Earlier in the day, thousands demonstrated less than half a mile from the House chamber, calling Netanyahu a “butcher” and “genocidal maniac” who was “making a fool of the United States.”

Leaders of some of America’s largest labor unions, religious leaders and Green Party candidate Jill Stein all denounced Netanyahu’s visit, asking “how dare” Congress invite Netanyahu to speak. 

A sizable number of Democratic lawmakers also boycotted the speech.

“Instead of speaking today, he should be delivered to the Hague to give his testimony about his war crimes,” Nihad Awad, executive director of the Council on American Islamic Relations, said.

“For the past 30 years, he has been actively manipulating our government … today, in a few hours, he will deliver a blistering, manipulative, deceptive speech to crack down more on the Palestinian people and destroy their life, their properties and their own future state.” 

Protesters initially rallied near the National Gallery of Art and then marched around the Capitol to Union Station, where the scene got more chaotic. 

The Park Police were joined by police forces from across the region. More than 200 officers from the New York Police Department (NYPD) traveled to the nation’s capital and were sworn to serve in the United States Capitol Police Special Officers force. 

“No matter the task, no matter the assignment, no matter how far from home, your NYPD will answer the call and ensure the public is safe and that democracy is protected,” wrote Kaz Daughtry, NYPD deputy commissioner for operations, on the social platform X. 

The Israeli leader alleged during his address that Iran is funding and promoting these demonstrations in the U.S. as part of its efforts to influence the ongoing conflict in Gaza. 

Earlier this month, Avril Haines, the director of national intelligence, warned that “actors tied to Iran’s government” have “opportunistically” co-opted some anti-Israel protests in the U.S., supporting and financing their work.

“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,” Netanyahu said, speaking directly to protesters, including those demonstrating in Washington, D.C. 

Netanyahu also took the opportunity to commend Pi Kappa Phi fraternity members at the University of North Carolina who gained viral attention after they were pictured holding up an American flag during a skirmish with pro-Palestinian supporters who sought to replace it with a Palestinian flag. 

“I wish to salute the fraternity brothers at the University of North Carolina who protected the American flag against these anti-Israel protesters,” Netanyahu said, prompting a series of “USA” chants to erupt on the floor. 

Taking an explicit hit at members of the LGBTQ community who have stood against his military offense in Gaza and sported clothing at protests embellished with the slogan, “Gays for Gaza,” Netanyahu suggested many do not understand what they are fighting for. 

“They might as well hold up signs saying ‘Chickens for KFC,’” Netanyahu quipped. 

“These protesters chant from the river to the sea, but many don’t have a clue what river and what sea they are talking about,” he added.