Richmond-area activist accused of defacing Columbus monument in D.C.

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — A Richmond-area activist previously arrested during an April protest in the city has been accused of spraypainting the monument of Christoper Columbus in Washington, D.C. in July.

According to an Oct. 4 press release from the U.S. Department of Justice, 26-year-old Zaid Mahdawi has been charged with destruction of government property in connection to his alleged actions during an authorized demonstration in the Columbus Circle on July 24.

On July 24, an unidentified organization was permitted to demonstrate in the Columbus Circle, located at Massachusetts Avenue NE and E. Street NE, right in front of Union Station. A DOJ spokesperson could not confirm what organization was demonstrating on July 24.

However, July 24 is also the same day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu came to D.C. to address Congress regarding the ongoing violence between Israel and Gaza — a conflict that has left over 1,000 Israelis and over 40,000 Palestinians dead. Thousands of people filled the streets to protest Netanyahu’s visit and the Associated Press reported that at least some of those pro-Palestinian protesters gathered near Union Station.

“From about 3 p.m. until 5 p.m., demonstrators who had gathered in Columbus Circle pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles, burned flags and objects, sprayed graffiti on multiple statutes and structures and interfered with law enforcement’s ability to place individuals under arrest,” the DOJ said in its release.

An affidavit provided to 8News by the DOJ states that this permit was revoked by the United States Park Police (USPP) at 3:26 p.m., about thirty minutes after demonstrators initially gathered in Columbus Circle.

USPP officers reportedly tried to find the organization’s leadership, but could not find them — so a USPP lieutenant called the permit holder’s phone, which went directly to voicemail. The Lieutenant left a voicemail informing the organization their permit was revoked.

Between 3:30 and 3:45 p.m., an individual the DOJ claims to be Mahdawi was captured on multiple cameras climbing the Christopher Columbus monument — also known as the Columbus Fountain — in the center of Columbus Circle.

This individual proceeded to spray-paint the monument with the words “HAMAS IS COMIN,” as well as an inverted triangle.

On July 30, the U.S. Park Police issued a bulletin regarding five suspects in criminal actions taken during this demonstration. According to the DOJ, a tip received that same day — along with other leads — resulted in the FBI identifying Mahdawi as the suspect in the defacement of the Columbus monument.

The affidavit provides additional insight as to how Mahdawi was identified by investigators as potentially involved in this incident.

According to the affidavit, a witness who said they went to the same gym as Mahdawi identified him from footage from July 24. They also told investigators about Mahdawi’s white sedan, which they said he drove to the gym regularly.

The FBI reportedly visited the gym, took down the license plate of the white sedan, which eventually led them to finding a photo of Mahdawi through the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles. The affidavit claims his appearance in that photo and the appearance of the person in the July 24 footage are very similar.

Additionally, the affidavit includes a photo taken of Mahdawi by the Richmond Police Department during a demonstration in the city. The affidavit claims the shoes Mahdawi is wearing in this photo match the shoes the individual in the July 24 footage wears. The previous witness also said they recognized these shoes as Mahdawi’s.

Finally, an officer with the Richmond Police Department told investigators that they knew Mahdawi personally, having initially met him at a religious gathering. Since then, they have reportedly met him “hundreds of times” in social settings. This officer identified the person in the July 24 footage as Mahdawi.

“The flags that were pulled down from the flag poles and the statues and structures in Columbus Circle are all property of the federal government,” the DOJ said. “The National Park Service estimated that the cost to clean and repair the site at about $11,282.23.”

According to the affidavit, Mahdawi is being charged with causing damage to the monument “in an amount less than $1,000.” 8News asked a DOJ spokesperson for a more specific dollar amount, but that number could not be provided at this time.

The DOJ did not state knowledge of any potential ties Mahdawi may or may not have had in the unidentified organization that was initially permitted access to the Columbus Circle.

Mahdawi has been known to participate in pro-Palestinian activism. 8News has previously reported on such activism in Richmond.

Mahdawi was arrested following an about 120-person protest he reportedly organized in the city April. The day after that protest, Mahdawi spoke at Richmond City Council advocating for a ceasefire in Gaza while wearing a “Free Palestine” hoodie. Prior to that, in Oct. 2023, Mahdawi talked to 8News during a vigil for Palestinians held at Monroe Park.

Mahdawi is scheduled to appear in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia the afternoon of Oct. 4.

An additional affidavit provided to 8News identifies another person arrested following the demonstration on July 24.

A Maryland woman, Isabella Giordano, was also charged in connection to the defacement of the Columbus monument, as well as two Columbus Circle flagpoles.

This is a developing story, stay with 8News for updates.

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