Authorities have successfully removed the Kufiya and Palestinian flags that defaced the statue of George Washington at George Washington University. Following the removal, only stickers remain as remnants of the incident after police cleared the anti-Israel encampment on campus in the early hours of Wednesday morning.
Reports indicate that at least 35 individuals were arrested by DC police during the operation at GWU. The situation escalated as anti-Israel agitators caused disturbances in the university's U-Yard, resisting police intervention to restore order.
Law enforcement officers eventually moved onto the campus around 3:30 a.m. and utilized pepper spray to disperse the unruly crowd that had gathered.
Over the past few days, the encampment had set up tents, prominently displayed Palestinian flags, and defaced a statue of the university's namesake, former President George Washington, with Palestinian iconography. This included affixing 'Free Palestine' stickers to the statue.
Furthermore, the anti-Israel demonstrators erected an American flag bearing the words 'Genocide Joe' alongside an image of President Biden.
On Wednesday, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and Police Chief Pamela Smith are scheduled to testify before the House Oversight Committee to address the anti-Israel demonstration and potential safety concerns arising from the incident at GWU.
The mayor's office has confirmed that both the mayor and the police chief will provide testimony during the hearing, underscoring the significance of the events that transpired at George Washington University.
