Posted on 07/25/2024 2:07:07 PM PDT by SeekAndFind
A group of Republican members of U.S. Congress hoisted the American flags outside Union Station in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night after anti-Israel protesters replaced them with Palestinian flags earlier in the day.
"Earlier today, pro-Hamas protesters took down the American flags at Union Station, burned them and raised Palestinian flags. Tonight, we righted their wrong. American flags are once again flying over Union Station. We will not let the terrorist mob win," House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., tweeted, along with a video of the lawmakers saying the Pledge of Allegiance.
Earlier today, pro-Hamas protesters took down the American flags at Union Station, burned them and raised Palestinian flags.
Tonight, we righted their wrong.
American flags are once again flying over Union Station. We will not let the terrorist mob win.
https://t.co/lDo43k13Ya— Speaker Mike Johnson (@SpeakerJohnson) July 25, 2024
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, was among the congressmen who restored the flags and tweeted footage of the event.
"We raised the flags back up!," he wrote. "Yesterday, terrorist sympathizers tore down the American flags at Union Station, burned them, and raised the Palestinian flag in its place. After votes tonight, a group of Members took our flag back and raised it."
We raised the flags back up!
Yesterday, terrorist sympathizers tore down the American flags at Union Station, burned them, and raised the Palestinian flag in its place. After votes tonight, a group of Members took our flag back and raised it.
pic.twitter.com/pEI8M2Lq3v— Rep. Dan Crenshaw (@RepDanCrenshaw) July 25, 2024
Footage circulated widely on social media Wednesday showing a large group of pro-Palestinian protesters lowering the three American flags outside Union Station, burning at least one of them and raising Palestinian flags in their place while shouting "Allahu akbar!"
One man tries to slap the burning American flag out with his jacket as he’s shoved out by protesters
Onlookers chant “Allahu Akbar” pic.twitter.com/ZvUDOWZj3k— Timcast News (@TimcastNews) July 24, 2024
Protesters also desecrated the nearby Columbus Memorial and Freedom Bell with graffiti expressing profane anti-Zionist and pro-Hamas messages. The Freedom Bell is a smaller-scale replica of Philadelphia's Liberty Bell made in 1975 for the U.S. bicentennial.
Anti Israel protesters burn the American flags they removed from flag posts at Union Station in DC https://t.co/C7eeionfhIpic.twitter.com/Q8OcYSHvKO— Timcast News (@TimcastNews) July 24, 2024
The defaced bell and statues were being pressure-washed on Thursday morning.
The swarms of protesters had attempted to march toward the U.S. Capitol ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint session of Congress. Police prevented them from nearing the building, according to The Associated Press.
After police blocked the protesters, they went through the Capitol Hill neighborhood and eventually wound up at the iconic train station. Police deployed pepper spray after the protesters became "violent" and uncooperative, the Capitol Police said.
The Capitol Police also noted that the flags at Union Station were not within their jurisdiction.
"No flags under our protection have been removed or vandalized. Our officers will enforce the law if anyone attempts to remove a flag in USCP jurisdiction. To clear up inaccurate reporting," Capitol Police said.
D.C. police and Capitol Police arrested 15 people, while the U.S. Park Police arrested eight people, according to The Washington Post.
The Union Station protest drew bipartisan condemnation.
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., condemned the vandals as "pro-Hamas lunatics" and noted that he "introduced a bill to deport any foreigner involved in violence and vandalism on federal property."
This morning my colleagues and I introduced a bill to deport any foreigner involved in violence and vandalism on federal property.
The actions of the pro-Hamas lunatics at Union Station in DC are shameful, and anyone on a visa who took part should have it revoked immediately. pic.twitter.com/A0I2FVmeh8— Tom Cotton (@SenTomCotton) July 24, 2024
"The Jew hate and anti-American garbage coming out of college campuses this spring didn't end with the last day of school," Rep. Jake Auchincloss, D-Mass, said. "College presidents, you're on notice: Enforce your codes of conduct from day one of the fall semester."
Vice President Kamala Harris, who is also the presumptive 2024 Democratic nominee, took nearly 24 hours to condemn the violent protests in a statement Thursday, describing them as "despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors [sic] and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric."
New: Vice President Harris condemns “despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric” in DC yesterday. pic.twitter.com/k0LFkGYJA6— Philip Melanchthon Wegmann (@PhilipWegmann) July 25, 2024
As of Thursday morning, President Joe Biden did not offer comment on the incident.
The protest comes as Israel continues its Gaza military offensive to eliminate Hamas, the terror group responsible for the Oct. 7 attack on Southern Israel that killed hundreds of civilians. Hamas has run the Gaza Strip since 2007.
The Hamas-controlled Gaza Health Ministry reports over 38,000 people have died in Gaza since the offensive began. That figure doesn't differentiate between combatants and civilians. The Israeli government has long accused Hamas of using civilians as human shields.
I would like to know why terrorists taking down these flags and burning them were not arrested. These were not their flags.
We’re any criminal charges filed against the terrorists????
RE: I would like to know why terrorists taking down these flags and burning them were not arrested.
Several were arrested .... and then set free after the usual fingerprint formalities, just like every BLM rioter have been in the past.
All of them, except the Jan 6 protesters, many who are still languishing in prison without a trial even as we speak.
Are the Capitol Police Americans????????
Good!!
Now punish those that break our laws.
The asswipes stole property and burned our flag. They need a good beatdown.
This really needs accountability and stopped.
It’s time for Americans to let loose their snipers and start taking some of this Muzzy feces out. This isn’t their country and it isn’t their flag. Maybe Americans should October 7th THEIR camel-smiling terrorist asses.
We need to start rounding up the terrorist sympathizing student loan deadbeats and throw their grungy asses in GITMO.
Agree, of course.
Allowing barbarism from the left means the wimpy, eunuch filled system of “justice” has to be replaced by the people.
They did that, not us.
One little hint:
Open burning is against open burning laws.🔥👮
and after the protesters were gone, repubs put on a fine performance, rivaling most high school drama performances.
We should have footage of people walking on terrorist flags. And let’s all remember “Palestine” is the colonizer name for Judea and Samaria. Given by the white European Romans.
Why weren’t these people shot on sight is my question
Exactly. It was an insurrection by terrorists, taking down and burning federally-owned American flags.
Then you reno
Sounds like a campaign ad. DemocRATS tear down and burn American flags, Republicans put them back up.
What happened to the Arab flags that were put up? Did the protesters take them down when the left or did the leave them flying? If the latter, did any patriots come by to tear them down and burn them?
re: and after the protesters were gone, repubs put on a fine performance, rivaling most high school drama performances.
What should these Republicans have done?
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