Additional Coverage:
Washington – Vice President Kamala Harris strongly criticized protesters who supported Hamas and burned an American flag near the U.S. Capitol during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s congressional speech on Wednesday. She stated, “hate and violence have no place in our nation.”
Following President Biden’s decision not to seek reelection, Harris, who is now the likely candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, labeled the protests involving “despicable acts” and “dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric” as unacceptable.
In her statement, Harris expressed her disapproval of any association with Hamas, describing the group as “a brutal terrorist organization committed to the destruction of Israel and the killing of Jews.” She added, “Graffiti and rhetoric supporting Hamas are disgusting and must not be tolerated in our country.” Regarding the American flag burning, she remarked, “That flag represents our nation’s highest ideals and its promise; it should never be desecrated.”
The demonstrations escalated on Wednesday when protesters, voicing their objection to U.S. backing of Israel, clashed with police and managed to reach Union Station, a major transportation hub in the capital. Several demonstrators climbed flagpoles at the station, replacing American flags with Palestinian flags, and an American flag was torched alongside a Netanyahu effigy.
U.S. Park Police reported that at least eight individuals were arrested for not dispersing and causing damage outside the station, such as vandalizing statues and fountains, tearing down and setting flags on fire, and igniting several minor fires. Additionally, pro-Hamas graffiti was sprayed on some statues with one particularly bold message stating “Hamas is coming.”
Inside the Capitol, Netanyahu stood firm in a joint session of Congress, defending Israel’s military actions in Gaza initiated by Hamas attacks on Oct. 7. He also criticized the pro-Hamas demonstrators, calling them “useful idiots,” and expressed gratitude towards the Biden administration for its continued support for Israel.
Later that day, a group of Republican lawmakers participated in hoisting new American flags at Union Station to replace those removed during the protests.
In her concluding remarks, Harris reiterated her support for peaceful protests but stressed, “Antisemitism, hate, and any form of violence are completely unacceptable in our nation.”