Kamala Harris Condemns ‘Dangerous Hate-Fueled Rhetoric’ of ‘Unpatriotic Protestors’ Who Burned U.S. Flag, Posted ‘Pro-Hamas Graffiti’

AP Photo/Kayla Wolf

Vice President Kamala Harris sharply condemned the “dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric” of the “unpatriotic protestors” who burned U.S. flags and posted pro-Hamas graffiti in Washington, D.C. in opposition to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress.

Netanyahu addressed a joint session of Congress Wednesday on the topic of Israel’s response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack, amid widespread criticism of how he has handled the war in Gaza. Several members of Congress pointedly decided to not attend the speech, and others voiced their opposition in other ways.

Wednesday afternoon, protestors clashed with D.C. police at Union Station, taking down U.S. flags and replacing them with Palestinian flags, burning U.S. and Israeli flags, and spray painting pro-Hamas and anti-Semitic graffiti on the monuments there.

Thursday morning, Harris issued a statement voicing her support for the First Amendment right to “peacefully protest,” but strongly condemning the actions of the protestors.

Wrote Harris:

Yesterday, at Union Station in Washington, D.C. we saw despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors and dangerous hate-fueled rhetoric.

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.

I condemn the burning of the American flag. 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.