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July 2024 protest in Washington, D.C.

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Over the span of two days in July 2024, a series of protests against the United States' involvement in the Israel–Hamas war occurred in Washington D.C.[1][2][3] The protests coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu arriving in the United States and giving a speech to a joint session of the United States Congress.[4] 23 people in total were arrested by police.[5]

Protests

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On 23 July, hundreds of Jewish Voice for Peace protestors held a sit-in protest inside the United States Capitol; 400 of these protestors were arrested.[6][7]

On 24 July 2024, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Washington, D.C., to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the United States and his joint address made in Congress. The main demonstration was organized by the ANSWER Coalition, the Palestinian Youth Movement, the People's Forum, and the International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, among other groups.[8] Members of Neturei Karta, an anti-Zionist Jewish sect, also participated.[9]

Prior to the speech, groups of protesters demonstrated near the Capitol before police pushed them away using pepper spray after they reported that sections of the crowd grew violent while failing to obey police orders. Many of the protesters turned away from the Capitol would gather in front of Union Station to demonstrate. Six intersections leading to the Capitol were blocked by protestors attempting to block Netanyahu's route.[10] At least four protesters were apprehended by police, with one officer taking and throwing aside a Palestinian flag held by a woman.[11] The United States Capitol Police deployed pepper spray during one instance of the crowd "starting to become violent" and refusing to obey police commands, two protesters were treated for pepper spray but no other injuries were reported.[12][13] Several American flags were replaced with Palestinian flags at Union Station Plaza and in Columbus Circle, and at least one American flag was burned.[14] Protesters heavily defaced the Freedom Bell outside of Union Station with spray paint and markers, writing messages including "End colonialism", "Hind's Hall", "Fuck America", "Welcome to the Intifada", "Anarchy 2025", and "This is Biden's legacy".[15]

Protesters burned an effigy of Netanyahu, while a papier-mâché effigy of United States President Joe Biden was presented to the group of demonstrators bearing devil horns and bloodied hands, representing his policies said to have enabled and made possible Netanyahu's military actions and war crimes towards the Gaza Strip. Other demonstrators climbed onto the Columbus Fountain near Union Station and used spray paint to write graffiti onto the monument. Writings included large lettering in red spray paint stating "Hamas is coming" and green paint stating "Free Gaza".[11] Other messages written on the sculpture included "Long live the resistance", "All Zionists are bastards", "Fuck Fascism!" and "Free Palestine", as well as several inverted red triangles representing the Palestinian flag.[15] Demonstrators also spray painted several other statues in Columbus Circle with the words "Free Gaza".[14]

A group of pro-Israel but anti-Netanyahu protestors also rallied in the area.[14] Relatives of Israeli hostages taken by Hamas during October 7 were forcibly removed from Congress after their attempt at protesting against Netanyahu, and some were arrested.[16]

Watergate Hotel

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Protestors released groups of maggots, mealworms, and crickets into the Watergate Hotel where Netanyahu was staying, including onto a table that he planned to use.[17]

In the Capitol

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Capitol Police made a public statement reporting that they arrested six people who entered the House gallery without permission to disrupt Netanyahu's joint address.[11]

References

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  1. ^ "Live updates: Netanyahu vows in speech to Congress to press on with war in Gaza until 'total victory,' sparking protests". AP News. Associated Press. 24 July 2024.
  2. ^ Silverman, Ellie; Gathright, Jenny; Williams, Clarence; Chu, Hau; Heim, Joe (24 July 2024). "Thousands protest Netanyahu's D.C. visit and Israel-Gaza war". Washington Post.
  3. ^ "Police use pepper spray in Netanyahu protest outside US Capitol". Reuters. Retrieved 24 July 2024. Protests were peaceful for the first few hours until about half an hour before the speech when demonstrators began a march and faced a blockade from police who used pepper spray, injuring some protesters.
  4. ^ "Live updates: Benjamin Netanyahu scolds critics of Israel's war in Gaza in speech to Congress". The Washington Post. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  5. ^ Silverman, Ellie; Gathright, Jenny; Williams, Clarence; Chu, Hau; Davies, Emily; Heim, Joe (2024-07-25). "U.S. flag set ablaze, 23 arrested as thousands protest Netanyahu's D.C. visit". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  6. ^ "'Let Gaza live': Anti-Netanyahu demonstrators hold sit-in protest at congressional offices". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  7. ^ "400 Jewish pro-Gaza Protesters arrested in US Capitol". Middle East Monitor. 24 July 2024.
  8. ^ Silverman, Ellie; Gathright, Jenny; Williams, Clarence; Chu, Hau; Heim, Joe (24 July 2024). "Thousands protest Netanyahu's D.C. visit and Israel-Gaza war". Washington Post.
  9. ^ "Thousands protest near US Capitol against Netanyahu's speech to Congress". The Times of Israel. 24 July 2024.
  10. ^ "Photos: Protesters rally in Washington, DC before Netanyahu speech". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  11. ^ a b c "Thousands fill Washington's streets to protest Israel's war in Gaza during Netanyahu visit". AP News. 2024-07-24. Retrieved 2024-07-24.
  12. ^ McGrath, Megan; Valencia, Juliana (24 July 2024). "Capitol Police pepper spray DC protesters as Israel's Netanyahu addresses Congress". NBC4 Washington. NBC. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  13. ^ Mayes-Osterman, John Bacon, Jorge L. Ortiz, Christopher Cann and Cybele. "Police deploy pepper spray as Netanyahu protesters converge on Capitol". USA Today. Retrieved 24 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b c Mayes-Osterman, Cybele; L. Ortiz, Jorge; Bacon, John; Cann, Christopher. "Police deploy pepper spray as Netanyahu protesters converge on Capitol". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  15. ^ a b Adragna, Anthony (24 July 2024). "Republicans condemn Netanyahu protesters for burning US flags — and waving Hamas ones instead". Politico. Retrieved 24 July 2024.
  16. ^ Magid, Jacob (2024-07-24). "Several hostage family members removed from Congress, detained". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
  17. ^ Nazzaro, Miranda (2024-07-24). "Watergate Hotel 'has been sanitized' after maggots released to protest Netanyahu stay". The Hill. Retrieved 2024-07-25.
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