Protest at Union Station

Anti-Israel protests erupted in Washington D.C. on July 24, 2024, coinciding with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress, leading to violent clashes and vandalism of landmarks. Protesters defaced the Columbus Memorial Fountain and the Freedom Bell with pro-Hamas graffiti while American flags were taken down, burned, and replaced with Palestinian flags. Cleanup efforts are now underway as officials, including House Republicans, restored American flags at Union Station. The demonstrations escalated, resulting in physical confrontations with police, and led to nine arrests for various offenses. Critics, including lawmakers, condemned the glorification of Hamas and the vandalism as dangerous and unacceptable. The National Park Service is now involved in repairing the damaged monuments and graffiti removal.