Protesters in Washington climb flagpoles to replace US flags with Palestinian ones, burn effigy of Netanyahu

By AP 24 July 2024, 11:28 pm 46 Edit

Demonstrators react after being exposed to a chemical irritant as they protest the visit of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Washington. (AP/Jose Luis Magana)

Protesters climb the flagpoles outside Washington’s Union Station and replace the American flags with Palestinian flags.

Dozens of officers wearing helmets and carrying riot shields walked in a line down a street outside Union Station, which is one of the nation’s busiest railroad terminals. Protesters cheer as a fire burned what appeared to be a paper-mache likeness of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The aftermath of the burning of an effigy of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and also an Israeli flag as protestors look on, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, in Washington near Union Station and the US Capitol. (AP/Mike Stewart)

An Associated Press reporter saw at least four people taken into custody by police during the confrontation outside Union Station.

Thousands of demonstrators had gathered in Washington to protest as Netanyahu spoke in front of Congress