Vice President Kamala Harris released a statement Thursday morning after intense pressure to respond to a rash of vandalism, flag-burning and antisemitic rhetoric near the nation’s Capitol building Wednesday.
Harris has been under fire for her stance on the Israel-Hamas war and for not immediately condemning the flag burning and antisemitism at the Washington, D.C. protests, which came the same day the Israeli Prime Minister addressed Congress.
“I condemn the burning of the American flag,” Harris said. “That flag is a symbol of our highest ideals as a nation and represents the promise of America. It should never be desecrated in that way. I support the right to peacefully protest, but let’s be clear: Antisemitism, hate and violence of any kind have no place in our nation.”
Videos online show pro-Hamas protesters in Washington, D.C. Wednesday spraying graffiti on national monuments apparently unhindered by police, waving Palestinian flags, burning the American flag and supporting violence against Jews.
Outside Union Station in Washington, D.C., within eyeshot of the U.S. Capitol, protesters took down the American flag and hoisted up the Palestinian flag.
“Yesterday, at Union Station in Washington, D.C. we saw despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric,” Harris said in her statement. “I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organization Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we must not tolerate it in our nation.”
Video and pictures of the flag swap drew widespread outrage.
“Earlier today, terrorist sympathizers tore down the American flags at Union Station, burned them, and raised the Palestinian flag in its place,” Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, a veteran, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter. “After votes tonight, a group of members, including many veterans and the Speaker of the House, took our flag back and raised it. Took a while to get it done because the Hamas supporters broke the connections, but DC police helped us out and got us zip ties.”
Hamas has been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department.
Harris is less than a week into her campaign for president where traditional media heralded Harris’ ascension to the top of the ticket, but this issue threatens to quickly turn the news cycle against her.
Last month, during an interview with late night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel, Harris was interrupted by protesters accusing her of being complicit in the civilian deaths in Gaza.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thrust the issue back to the forefront this week with his address to Congress.
Haris, who would have sat behind Netanyahu during the speech if she had attended, skipped the event.
Whether the incident will continue to plague Harris or will blow over remains to be seen. For now, Republicans have pointed out that the protesters seemingly got away with the vandalism while Jan. 6 protesters are still being hunted down and prosecuted.
“This morning my colleagues and I introduced a bill to deport any foreigner involved in violence and vandalism on federal property,” Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., wrote on X. “The actions of the pro-Hamas lunatics at Union Station in DC are shameful, and anyone on a visa who took part should have it revoked immediately.”
