Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered in Washington, D.C. on Saturday night, demonstrating against the Biden administration’s support of Israel in the conflict with Hamas. While the protest remained largely peaceful, a few incidents of vandalism and property damage were reported.
The Metropolitan Police Department arrested one adult male during the hours-long march for Destruction of Property in the 700 block of 17th Street, Northwest. Additional acts of vandalism that damaged the McPherson Square Metro Station and several police vehicles are currently under investigation.
Protesters could be seen near the White House, vandalizing the White House fence and gate. Antisemitic graffiti was left on several buildings along the path of the demonstration. Despite this, the Secret Service reported that its agents around the White House and other executive branch buildings made no arrests during the protest.
Demonstrators also defaced statues in downtown Washington, including wrapping Palestinian flags around a statue of Benjamin Franklin and another of General Marquis de Lafayette near the White House.
Some protesters expressed their frustration by chanting “F–k Joe Biden” outside the White House. Videos shared by the Daily Caller showed a protester waving a Palestinian flag while climbing partway up the White House fence as fellow demonstrators chanted, “Free, free Palestine.”
The protests called for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, and “Allahu akbar” chants could be heard.
The fact that there was only one arrest is outright hypocrisy.
Just 1 arrest after pro-Palestinian DC protest spurs acts of vandalism, bid to scale White House fence: Police in Washington made just one arrest during Saturday night’s protest in which tens of thousands of anti-Israel demonstrators marched through the… https://t.co/gu5PfsXVyY pic.twitter.com/Ux8HxcfRao
— USA News (@1USNews) November 5, 2023
Wow 1 was arrested!!! Meanwhile the effing DOJ goes after J6 protestors when they weren’t even in the buildings. Dismantle the entire corrupted DOJ!
Just 1 arrest after pro-Palestinian DC protest spurs acts of vandalism, bid to scale White House fencehttps://t.co/9UZK91lfrq
— Justintime
(@Justint88117236) November 5, 2023
