On Wednesday, the US Park Police arrested eight individuals in connection with protests that took place outside of Washington DC’s Union Station. The demonstrations involved burning an American flag and causing damage to property.
The protests occurred following a speech delivered by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before Congress. Protesters spray painted the phrase “Hamas is comin” and climbed the Christopher Columbus statue located in Columbus Circle, near the main train station. Additionally, Palestinian flags were flown on flagpoles in front of the station, and an effigy of Netanyahu was burned.
In response to the escalating situation, the US Park Police issued a statement indicating that individuals associated with the demonstration had damaged park property, including vandalizing statues and fountains, tearing down and burning flags, and starting fires. Despite law enforcement efforts to control the crowd, the permit for the event was revoked, and attendees were instructed to vacate the area.
The clean-up process is set to commence on Thursday, with National Park Service conservators tasked with removing paint from the statues and fountains at Columbus Circle. The removal process may require multiple treatments over several days to fully address the damage.
While specific charges were not detailed by the police, the Parks Police Fraternal Order, representing officers, mentioned that the charges included destruction of government property, assault on police, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest, statue climbing, fighting, and interfering. Video footage of the incident captured a protester intervening in a police arrest, although it remains unclear if this action led to the assault on police charge.
Authorities have not disclosed the identities of those who were charged in connection with the protests.
