Washington: On Wednesday, a group of pro-Palestinian protestors made a powerful statement by lowering an American flag and burning it down just a few blocks away from the US Congress, before hoisting a Palestine flag in its place.
The incident took place near Union Station, where Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was addressing a Joint Session of the US Congress.
The protestors, numbering in the hundreds, were expressing their outrage over the US policy in the Middle East and the ongoing violence in Gaza and other parts of Palestine. Six people were arrested by the local police as videos of the protest showed them chanting pro-Hamas and anti-Israeli slogans. The group also defaced historic monuments in the city and set an effigy of Netanyahu on fire.
Police had installed barricades around important government buildings and used pepper spray against some of the protestors outside the US Capitol. The Washington Post reported that 23 people were arrested in total for their participation in the protests. While most demonstrators were peaceful, there were some clashes with law enforcement.
The demonstrations were not limited to just one location, as similar protests were taking place in other parts of the city as well.
This powerful display of protest speaks to the deep-rooted emotions and concerns surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the impact it has on global politics.
