‘Fort Netanyahu’: Protesters burn US flag outside heavily secured Capitol

Thousands of protesters marched along the Capitol security perimeter on Wednesday, July 24. The protesters hoped to send Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a message: He shouldn’t be allowed to speak before Congress. 

“Netanyahu does not speak in the name of Jews of the United States and any Jews worldwide,” said Rabbi Naftuli Flohr, a member of the group Neturei Karta International. “He don’t have any right to speak in our name and don’t represent us. And we are prepared to show solidarity with the Palestinian people.”

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The protesters drummed and chanted ceaselessly, but they were perhaps loudest when they burned an effigy of the prime minister and an American flag. They also vandalized Union Station’s Columbus Fountain and Freedom Bell with pro-Hamas messages. 

The Capitol building was locked down and tightly secured Wednesday. About a block out, there was a line of bicycle fencing, concrete road barriers and police officers. An 8-foot high pedestrian fence surrounded the main grounds. Protesters called it “Fort Netanyahu.”

“This government that claims to be an upholder of democratic and First Amendment freedom has instead converted itself into a 100% fortress for a war criminal who deserves to be arrested,” Layan Fuleihan, the education director for The People’s Forum, said.

The International Criminal Court’s top prosecutor accused Netanyahu of committing war crimes in May and sought an arrest warrant. However, the United States, Israel and some other countries do not recognize the court’s jurisdiction. 

The protesters also criticized President Joe Biden for his administration’s support for Israel. They called him “Genocide Joe” and displayed an effigy covered in blood with devil’s horns. They repeatedly described Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide, however, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said there is no evidence of that.  

Protesters cheered loudly when a speaker said Vice President Kamala Harris replaced Biden at the top of the Democratic ticket, and that she decided to skip the address. But when asked, protesters gave mixed reactions about the Democrats’ new presumptive nominee.

“I feel a little bit more optimistic but at the end of the day, she’s still a politician,” said Lauren Soto, a registered voter. 

“The comments that she has made up to this point are more supportive or they ground the humanitarian crisis at the forefront, so that compared to sweeping it under the rug is moving it in the right direction,” Jonathan Staal, a District of Columbia resident, said. 

Netanyahu is scheduled to meet with both Biden and Harris on Thursday. So, it does not appear these protesters will get their wish for the U.S. to end its support for Israel.