No arrests made in anti-Israel protest that vandalized park near White House, authorities report

Various law enforcement agencies said they did not make any arrests related to the anti-Israel protest on Saturday in which people trashed a park next to the White House.

The Secret Service, D.C. police, and U.S. Park Police told The Washington Free Beacon that they did not detain anyone in connection to the demonstration at Lafayette Park in Washington, D.C., that left a number of statues vandalized.

As noted by NBC News, police said they attempted to arrest one person who climbed a statue, but that individual got away as members of the crowd intervened and officers deployed pepper spray.

Police officers walked out of the park while being followed by some of the protesters as chants of “You have to leave” morphed into “F*** the police,” as shown in video posted to X by reporter Julio Rosas.

Anti-Israel protesters formed a mob and chased US Park Police and Secret Service out of Lafayette Square after officers apparently tried to arrest someone. Police are no longer inside the park and are on the boundaries of the protest: “F*ck the police!” pic.twitter.com/N5EctSe8Ya

— Julio Rosas (@Julio_Rosas11) June 8, 2024

“Anti-Israel protesters formed a mob and chased US Park Police and Secret Service out of Lafayette Square after officers apparently tried to arrest someone,” Rosas said. “Police are no longer inside the park and are on the boundaries of the protest.”

Other clips posted to social media showed people had climbed onto statues covered with graffiti, set off a red smoke bomb, and unfurled a red banner meant to surround the White House and depict their “red line” on the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Protesters gathered to call on President Joe Biden to cut military aid to Israel and demand a ceasefire in the Gaza war against Hamas. However, Biden was in France to commemorate the 80th anniversary of World War II’s D-Day invasion.

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The Washington Post reported that National Park Service staff power-washed sculptures on Sunday and an agency spokesperson said that “notable damage includes graffiti, damage to some structures and damage to park infrastructure in Lafayette Park.”

Several lawmakers, particularly Republicans, responded with outrage to images of the statues being covered in spray paint with messages such as “Free Gaza” before crews had cleaned them up.

“This is the disgusting, disgraceful behavior we’ve come to expect from terrorist sympathizers,” said Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who is a contender to become former President Donald Trump’s running mate this election cycle.

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