Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday ripped “despicable acts by unpatriotic protestors” in Washington who waved flags affiliated with the Hamas terrorist group.
Pro-Palestinian rioters clashed with U.S. Capitol Police and vandalized areas around Union Station while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress at the Capitol on Wednesday. The clashes sparked an outcry from Republicans who said the Biden administration and Democrats did little to push back.
Ms. Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, weighed in the next day with a post on X.
“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,” she said in the statement.
Protesters say Mr. Netanyahu is waging a genocidal war in Gaza, which Hamas controls. The militants killed more than 1,000 people and took scores of hostages during Oct. 7’s raid on southern Israel.
Mr. Netanyahu told Congress that Israel should not be hamstrung while it tries to root out the terrorists. President Biden, who was set to meet with him Thursday, has tried to walk a fine line by supporting Israel while urging the prime minister to show restraint and minimize civilian deaths in Gaza.
SEE ALSO: National Park Service begins cleanup of vandalized monuments following anti-Israel protest
Former President Donald Trump slammed protesters who desecrated the American flag during Wednesday’s riot, saying they should face a yearlong jail sentence.
Ms. Harris didn’t call for criminal punishment but condemned the burnings.
“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,” she said. “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.”
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said if Ms. Harris really cared about Israel, she would have attended Mr. Netanyahu’s speech.
“Vice President Harris was on the campaign trail. Most of the Hamas apologists in Congress boycotted it,” the Kentucky Republican said Thursday. “And of course, a mob of far-left terrorist sympathizers was too busy vandalizing our nation’s capital to tune in.”
• Tom Howell Jr. can be reached at thowell@washingtontimes.com.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.