Washington, D.C
Washington DC’s protests against Netanyahu: Letters to the Editor — July 29, 2024
The Issue: The demonstrations in Washington, DC, protesting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The burning of the American flag and the desecration of our nation’s monuments is deeply unpatriotic and totally unacceptable (“Protests greet Netanyahu,” July 25).
These acts should have been prevented by the authorities present. How was it possible for demonstrators to take down flags from three separate flagpoles and spray-paint a monument without being stopped? The police should have prevented this desecration in the first place.
Peaceful protest is a right, but it should never cross the line into violence. We need better leadership to handle this situation.
Richard Wolff
New Rochelle
It’s time for the National Guard to be deployed to quell such protests in Washington, DC, as they have already gone too far.
These protests all started at liberal colleges across the country. And now there are protests at our nation’s very own capitol. This should be dealt with accordingly.
John Nolty
West Kill
While the protests of the late 1960s and early ’70s against the Vietnam War were loud, strident and occasionally disruptive, what we are now encountering with the recent anti-Israel protests is of an entirely different dimension and character.
For example, the Wednesday demonstration in Washington included threats and assaults on police officers. Should we include flag-burning? A previous Supreme Court decision ruled that it is free speech — but with your own flag.
Peaceful and lawful protest is a well-accepted vehicle that provides the opportunity for dissent. However, what we are seeing now is not acceptable.
Mitch Schwefel
Barnegat, NJ
While Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was addressing Congress, anti-Israel protesters defaced a Liberty Bell replica, Columbus monument and numerous other prominent American landmarks.
Several progressive Democrats did not attend Netanyahu’s speech, including our very own Vice President Kamala Harris, in what can also be considered a form of protest.
All of this is shameful, as this is done in support of Hamas — a designated terrorist organization.
Joseph Comperchio
Brooklyn
The only crime of the protests was that a protester (or, in my opinion, a suspicious agitator) burned an American flag and not an Israeli one.
I am proud, however, to see that Americans of many stripes, among them Jews from the Jewish Voice for Peace, came together to protest the genocide being carried out by Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu and his goons.
These protests were a prime example of the moral fortitude that so many pro-Palestinian activists hold. They exemplified the resilience necessary to shout, make their voice heard and show our AIPAC-funded politicians how many Americans actually feel about their support for the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza.
Leon Baader
Brooklyn
The desecration of our nation’s monuments with anti-American language cannot, in my mind, be considered free speech.
Seeing the Democrats do little about these protesters just proves that we need a change in our government. It’s time to start locking up and prosecuting these agitators.
Those who have died for this country at the very least deserve that.
James Schwartz
Summit, NJ
The protesters, or should I say rioters, who loudly proclaim that they support Hamas should face prison time when they destroy property and attack law-enforcement officers.
Taking down American flags and then putting up Palestinian flags cannot be tolerated in our country. This is an attack on our democracy.
They should be treated as enemies of the American government and imprisoned.
Bruce Collins
Middletown, NJ
The protesters stated they want to wipe out Israel and also besmirched America’s flag.
If that’s not bigotry, I don’t know what is.
Charlie Honadel
Venice, Fla.
Want to weigh in on today’s stories? Send your thoughts (along with your full name and city of residence) to letters@nypost.com. Letters are subject to editing for clarity, length, accuracy, and style.
Washington, D.C
When will D.C. cherry blossoms bloom? Maps and chart show when and where to see them
Washington, D.C.’s iconic cherry blossoms are getting closer to the 2025 peak bloom. Thousands of trees with white and pink flowers circle the Tidal Basin and parks near some of the capital’s famous monuments and memorials.
Here’s what to know about when and where to see the cherry trees in bloom.
When will the cherry blossoms bloom in Washington, D.C., this year?
Peak bloom occurs when 70% of the blossoms of the Yoshino cherry trees, the most common type along the Tidal Basin, are open. The National Park Service, which tracks the blooming of the trees each year, predicts peak bloom will be between March 28 and 31 this year.
Based on over 100 years of data, the average peak bloom date is April 3, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. The timing of peak bloom varies each year, largely due to temperatures, with warmer temperatures leading to earlier peak blooms.
Since 1921, when the National Park Service began recording the dates, peak blooms have shifted earlier by about eight days, the EPA says.
What is the status of cherry blossoms in D.C.?
As of March 20, the official first day of spring, 70% of the Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin reached the fourth stage in their blooming, which is peduncle elongation, according to the National Park Service. There is one more stage, puffy blossoms, before peak bloom.
A live camera provided by the Trust for the National Mall offers viewers a chance to check the status of some of the blossoms.
Where to see the D.C. cherry blossoms
The most famous place to see the cherry blossoms in the nation’s capital is around the Tidal Basin in West Potomac Park. Many cherry trees are also along a section of the Potomac River and Washington Channel in East Potomac Park.
This year, construction that began in August 2024 to replace seawalls along the Potomac River and part of the Tidal Basin could affect the viewing of some of the cherry trees. The work is expected to last through 2026.
However, there are many other cherry trees throughout Washington, D.C. Casey Trees, a nonprofit that plants and cares for trees in the city, provides a map of where to see the blossoms across Washington. The map does not include trees on private property, the organization said.
How long will the cherry blossoms last in D.C.?
The Yoshino cherry trees usually bloom for several days, the National Park Service said, but weather conditions will affect the length of time.
“Cool, calm weather can extend the length of the bloom, and a rainy, windy day can bring an abrupt end to the ephemeral blossoms,” the agency said on its website. “A late frost can prevent the trees from blooming at all.”
Why does D.C. have cherry blossoms?
Japan gifted more than 3,000 cherry trees to the United States in 1912 as a symbol of friendship.
That year, first lady Helen Herron Taft and the wife of the Japanese ambassador, Viscountess Chinda Iwa, planted two of the Yoshino cherry trees along the Tidal Basin, the National Park Service notes in a history of the trees. In the next few years, the trees continued to be planted around the basin and other areas.
But the idea to plant Japanese cherry trees in the U.S. capital was raised as early as 1885 by a woman named Eliza Ruhamah Scidmore, a writer and diplomat, according to the National Park Service.
Despite her first request to the U.S. Army Superintendent of the Office of Public Buildings and Grounds not going anywhere, she continued to ask and eventually wrote to Herron Taft, who helped bring the idea to life, the agency says.
Taylor Johnston
contributed to this report.
WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — A man was shot multiple times in southeast D.C. Thursday night and later died at the scene, according to the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).
MPD said officers responded to the 2400 block of Elvans Road for the report of a shooting and discovered the man was still breathing when they arrived. Despite attempts to administer life-saving care, the man was pronounced dead on the scene.
SEE ALSO | MPD searching for man who stole items out of car in Northwest DC
It’s not clear if police have any suspect in custody.
The MPD Homicide Unit is leading the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to contact MPD at 202-727-9099 or text 50411.
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