(FamilyConservationPAC.com) – At least several hundred pro-Hamas demonstrators, many of whom were holding Palestinian flags, gathered around Capitol Hill to oppose Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s scheduled appearance before Congress on Wednesday.
Julio Rosas of Blaze News was able to record footage of the anti-Israel demonstrators shoving, yelling, and pursuing police officers who were positioned near Union Station and the Capitol.
On camera from the protest, some members of the crowd could be seen trying to yank police officers from agitators who were handcuffed and in restraint.
“Let them go! Let them go!” the crowd chanted at cops.
A video obtained by Blaze News shows U.S. Park Police removing and securing an American flag at Union Station.
After doing so, the officers left amidst the chaos. The protesters can be seen shouting orders to each other as they trail behind the group of officers, attempting to seize the flag from them.
I’m calling it: Today shall be known as J24. https://t.co/VsCkHXre7H
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 24, 2024
Activists took down the American flags that were flying outside Union Station and replaced them with Palestinian flags. Protesters vandalized a statue by writing, “Hamas is coming.”
Additional images and videos captured protesters setting Israeli and American flags on fire.
Anti-Israel protesters have taken down the American flags outside Union Station and replaced them with Palestinian flags. pic.twitter.com/Yli1tN6QSz
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 24, 2024
To break up the altercation, Metropolitan Police officers used pepper spray outside the Capitol building.
In a post on X, Rosas called the situation “absolute chaos,” stating that the demonstrators who had been detained at Union Station were being pursued by the crowd in an attempt to liberate them. Eventually, pepper spray was employed to drive the crowd away.”
Rosas stated that several of the demonstrators had been taken into custody by the police.
In the meantime, about half of the Democratic members of the House and Senate chose to side with the activists rather than attend Netanyahu’s speech to Congress.
Former House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.), Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi did not attend the prime minister’s speech.
Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) displayed a sign in the chamber that said, “Guilty of genocide.”
“I will never back down in speaking truth to power,” Tlaib stated. “The apartheid government of Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians. Palestinians will not be erased. Solidarity with all those outside of these walls in the streets protesting and exercising their right to dissent.”
Netanyahu was referred to by Ocasio-Cortez as “a war criminal.”
Vice President Kamala Harris (D) also refrained from attending Netanyahu’s speech, citing a previously booked function. There are reports that on Thursday, the Israeli prime minister will meet separately with President Joe Biden and Senator Harris.
Netanyahu and Donald Trump are scheduled to meet this Friday.
On Monday, upon Netanyahu and his spouse’s arrival in Washington, D.C., neither Biden nor Harris appeared.
The mob continued to chase police officers to try to free protesters who had been arrested at Union Station. Pepper spray was eventually used to push the crowd back. pic.twitter.com/ztBvpxAVrU
— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) July 24, 2024
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