Pro-Hamas activists at the George Washington University Encampment, who had previously defaced the George Washington statue on the campus with a keffiyeh and a Palestinian flag, projected flames onto the American flag with incendiary messages condemning the United States.
Those messages included, “Gaza lights the spark that will set the empire ablaze,” “Long live the Student Intifada,” “Down with the Settler-State,” “Glory to the Martyrs of Palestine,” and one that quoted the notorious Gaza Health Ministry’s claims about the number of Palestinians killed in Gaza: “Stained with the Blood of 44,000 Palestinians.”
Other messages included
"Long live the Student Intifada"
"Down with the Settler-State"
"Glory to the Martyrs of Palestine"
"Stained with the Blood of 44,000 Palestinians" pic.twitter.com/MMUD2RJTiv
— Stu (@thestustustudio) May 8, 2024
“For days, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and the Metropolitan Police Department had resisted pressure to clear the demonstration and said peaceful protests were allowed,” NBC Washington noted.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser finally ordered the D.C. police to clear the encampment — which had been initiated as far back as April 25 — early Wednesday morning after she had been asked to speak at a congressional hearing.
House Majority Leader Steve Scalise noted, “It shouldn’t have taken the threat of a Congressional hearing for DC Mayor Bowser to finally allow DC Police to respond to George Washington University’s call for them to clear the anti-Semitic and unlawful encampments. It should’ve been done on Day 1.”
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It shouldn’t have taken the threat of a Congressional hearing for DC Mayor Bowser to finally allow DC Police to respond to George Washington University’s call for them to clear the anti-Semitic and unlawful encampments. It should’ve been done on Day 1. https://t.co/2J5LzR58wr
— Steve Scalise (@SteveScalise) May 8, 2024
House Committee on Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer (R-KY) stated, “Following the Metropolitan Police Department finally clearing out the unlawful encampment on GW’s campus, I am very pleased to announce that the hearing with Mayor Bowser has been canceled. I had a good conversation with Mayor Bowser: I thanked her for finally clearing the trespassers off the GW Campus. It was unfortunate the situation at GW forced the Oversight Committee to act; however it was apparent that the DC police force was not going to do their job. Therefore, after meeting with GW leadership and touring the encampment, we decided to hold a public hearing to get answers as to why the Mayor would not uphold the law. I am pleased that the potential Oversight hearing led to swift action by Mayor Bowser and action by Mayor Bowser and MPD Chief Smith. We will continue to hold D.C. officials accountable to ensure our nation’s capital is safe for all.”
🚨Following the Metropolitan Police Department finally clearing out the unlawful encampment on GW’s campus, I am very pleased to announce that the hearing with DC Mayor Bowser has been canceled.@GOPoversight will continue to hold DC officials accountable.
Statement below.👇 pic.twitter.com/IVkgdktwwr
— Rep. James Comer (@RepJamesComer) May 8, 2024