Journalist attempts to set himself on fire at pro-Palestinian rally in DC

A MAN, IDENTIFIED AS A FORMER PHOTOJOURNALIST, ATTEMPTED TO SET HIMSELF ON FIRE DURING A PRO-PALESTINIAN RALLY NEAR THE WHITE HOUSE SATURDAY EVENING.

VIDEO SHOWS SAMUEL MENA JR. SETTING HIS LEFT ARM ABLAZE, HOLDING IT HIGH AND SCREAMING IN PAIN.

BYSTANDERS QUICKLY DOUSED THE FLAMES WITH WATER AND USED CLOTHING TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. POLICE OFFICERS RESTRAINED MENA, WHO WAS then TRANSPORTED TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WITH NON-LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.

WHILE THE FLAMES WERE BEING EXTINGUISHED — MENA REPEATEDLY SHOUTED, “WE SPREAD THE MISINFORMATION,” AND IDENTIFIED HIMSELF AS A JOURNALIST.

HIS EMPLOYER, ARIZONA FAMILY’S, OWNED BY GRAY MEDIA, WROTE UP AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE INCIDENT SAYING MENA WORKED AS A NEWS PHOTOGRAPHER FOR THE LOCAL CBS AFFILIATE “BUT WAS OFF DUTY AND NOT IN WASHINGTON ON STATION BUSINESS. ARIZONA’S FAMILY EXPECTS ITS NEWSROOM EMPLOYEES TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES WITH NEUTRALITY AND OBJECTIVITY. MENA IS NO LONGER AN EMPLOYEE.”

THE PROTEST IN WASHINGTON D.C. WAS PART OF A LARGER INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION. THOUSANDS OF DEMONSTRATORS SHOWED UP IN WASHINGTON D.C. AND MAJOR CITIES WORLDWIDE PARTICIPATED IN THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION, DEMANDING AN IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE IN GAZA AND AN END TO U.S. MILITARY AID TO ISRAEL.

THE UNITED STATES’ ROLE IN THE CONFLICT HAS COME UNDER INCREASING SCRUTINY, WITH REPORTS INDICATING NEARLY $18 BILLION IN MILITARY AID SENT TO ISRAEL SINCE THE START OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR BEGAN ONE YEAR AGO.