WASHINGTON — Following a heated protest at Union Station, where several pieces of federal property were damaged, police have made an arrest.
Isabella Giordano, 20, from Towson, Maryland, has been arrested in connection with the defacement of federal property at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station. Giordano was arrested Friday, following an incident on July 24 where Giordano is accused of using spray paint to vandalize several pieces of federal property during a protest against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C.
Giordano faces charges for willfully damaging property of the United States. She is expected to appear in court Friday afternoon.
On July 24, an organization held a permitted demonstration in Columbus Circle, located at the intersection of Massachusetts Ave. NE and E St. NE, directly in front of Union Station. This protest was organized in response to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, D.C. During the demonstration, which lasted from approximately 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., participants engaged in various acts of vandalism. They pulled down flags, burned them along with other objects, sprayed graffiti on multiple statues and structures, and obstructed police efforts to make arrests.
Videos posted on X (formerly Twitter) captured Giordano using red spray paint to inscribe “Gaza” on the Columbus Fountain. She also defaced the bases of two flagpoles in the area. Following the vandalism, the U.S. Park Police and FBI released images of Giordano and four other individuals wanted in connection with the vandalism. Giordano was identified through tips received by the USPP on August 1.
The National Park Service estimates the cost to clean and repair the damage at approximately $11,282.23. The case is being thoroughly investigated by the USPP’s Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit in collaboration with the FBI’s Washington Field Office.