WASHINGTON — The unrest over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to D.C. continued Thursday, with demonstrations popping up for a fourth day. Protesters were seen near the White House mid-afternoon pouring gallons of fake blood on Black Lives Matter Plaza ahead of Netanyahu's meeting with President Joe Biden. They said this symbolized the blood shed in Gaza.
Some in the crowd said they were driven to protest after hearing the prime minister's fiery speech to Congress, telling protesters they had "officially become Iran's useful idiots" and saying some anti-Israel protesters "stand with evil ... stand with Hamas."
"Netanyahu was at the thing yesterday saying that we are getting paid for being out here, that we are with Hamas, no bro we are with humanity bro," said Hamza Sandoval, a pro-Palestine protester. "I am not being paid. My little sister is not being paid. We just have a hunger for justice. That's all."
However, the crowd also said they had very little hope that Netanyahu's D.C. meetings would result in a ceasefire or change the relationship between Israel and the United States.
Drivers are also facing unexpected roadblocks with several key D.C. streets shut down due to the current protests.
Here's what streets have closed:
- H Street, NW between 15th and 17th Street, NW
- 17th Street, NW between H and K Street, NW
- K Street between 15th and 17th Street, NW
- 15th Street, NW between H and K Street, NW
- I Street, NW between 15th and 17th Street, NW
- 16th Street, NW between H and K Street, NW
- Connecticut Ave, NW between H and I Street, NW
- Vermont Ave, NW between H and I Street, NW
In a statement released Thursday, Kamala Harris called on the protesters to demonstrate respectfully.
"Yesterday, at Union Station in Washington, D.C. we saw despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric," the vice president said. "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."
And the protesters seemed to take heed, as WUSA9 crews did not see any vandalism of any sort. While no arrests have been made as of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, DC Police did break up several clashes throughout the day as people with different ideologies were all gathered in the same place. While WUSA9 was interviewing a reservist soldier for the Israel Defense Forces, the conversation was interrupted.
"It's important for us to share the reality because as you see here, there are so many lies, and so many extremist visualization with bloodied hands-- a lot of blood on Bibi's hands," Aby Volcovich said before another protester started trying to talk over him. "See as you can see people are trying to interrupt our interview and we have been having this throughout the day where people are just merging into conversations with individuals that are actually willing to listen. So there are people that are willing to listen. Most people I go up to I say I want to talk about peace, and bringing solutions to the conflict."
Thursday's crowds were only about a fourth the size of Wednesday's, where thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to share frustrations with members of Congress for inviting Netanyahu to speak. At least 23 people were arrested in connection to those protests. The arrest charges ranged from crowding, obstructing and incommoding to assault on a police officer and crossing a police line. American flags were burned, a statue of Netanyahu was set on fire and monuments were vandalized outside Union Station.
Rep. Brandon Williams (R-NY) posted video on social media of a group of lawmakers re-raising flags Wednesday evening that had been destroyed outside the train station. Cleanup efforts were still ongoing Thursday.
WUSA9 spoke to protesters Wednesday who said they are just as upset at Netanyahu as they are at American members of Congress who invited the Israeli prime minister to address Congress.
"It is a slap in the face for this administration and for both parties to be hosting someone who is wanted by the international criminal courts for the role that he's played in the massacre of Palestinian people in Gaza," Kaleem Hawa, an organizer of the Palestinian Youth Movement, said. "Our responsibility today is to show mass grassroots anger at this administration's ongoing funding and arming of this genocide."
The crowds appeared to be a diverse group made up of people with Palestinian roots, members of the Jewish community and others who say they are outraged at what's going on in Gaza.
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