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 (DC News Now) — A Texas man accused of shooting at a United States Secret Service agent near the Washington Monument earlier this month has been indicted on federal charges, the Justice Department announced Friday.
A federal grand jury indicted 45-year-old Michael Marx with “assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon” and “using, carrying, possessing, brandishing, and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence,” in connection with the May 4 incident, in which a stray bullet struck a teenage bystander.
“Today’s indictment reflects the gravity of the defendant’s actions on one of the most heavily visited public spaces in the nation,” U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said Friday, in part. “The evidence shows Marx not only carried an illegal firearm into DC, but he fired it at uniformed officers, wounding an innocent teenage bystander who was simply visiting the National Mall with his family on a spring afternoon.”
Authorities previously charged Marx with assaulting federal officers with a dangerous weapon, using and discharging a firearm during a crime of violence, and unlawful possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
According to court documents, an undercover Secret Service agent initially noticed Marx trying to conceal a gun on the right side of his body near 15th Street and Madison Drive NW shortly after 3:30 p.m. on the afternoon of the shooting.
At the same time, the motorcade for Vice President J.D. Vance was leaving the White House, passing through the area just up the street.
Uniformed Secret Service officers arrived to provide backup, finding Marx along the path of Vance’s motorcade. The attorney’s office said officers began to give the Texas man verbal commands, but he started running through a crosswalk and eventually fired at one of the agents as he reached the sidewalk.
The bullet struck the teenage bystander, who was walking behind the agent, in the leg, according to the DOJ.
Agents quickly returned fire, striking Marx in the hand, left arm, and upper body, according to court documents.
Court documents state that agents used Marx’s Texas driver’s license, which he was carrying, to identify him as the gunman. Investigators also identified various aliases Marx allegedly went by, including Patrick Michael and Michael Zavici.
While in the hospital, he allegedly made statements to officers, including ”F— the White House,” and “kill me, kill me, kill me,” the DOJ noted in a release.
Police found a Sig Sauer P365 handgun loaded with 9mm ammunition from the street where Marx fell.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Abundant sunshine
- Temps slightly cooler than average
- No rain in sight — again
- Mid-week warmup
May is drawing to a dry, comfortable close, in stunning contrast to the very soggy Memorial Day weather we saw last weekend.
That 10-day stretch of rain put a definite dent in our drought, according to the weekly national drought monitor, but it seems that was the end of the improvement for a while: There’s almost no clouds in sight for the DMV for several days.
Enjoy the many hours of sunshine on Saturday. The high pressure coming in from the Hudson Bay brings a stiff north wind, but the day will also be sunny and comfortable, with highs in the mid 70s.
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
The wind will die down after dark, and Sunday morning will be bordering on chilly. Expect widespread mid/upper 40s in most of the D.C. area, with urban centers and bayside communities staying just above 50°. Sunday afternoon will be just a bit warmer, in the mid 70s, but with far less of a breeze.
Highs will be back around 80° for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, with overnight lows in the comfy 50s. It’ll be a perfect start to meteorological summer (June/July/August).
QuickCast
TODAY:
Sunshine Abounds, Breezy
Wind: North 10-15mph, Gust to 25 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 70° to 75°
TONIGHT:
Clear Skies
Winds Diminish
Wind: Northwest 10-15 mph
Chance Of Rain: 0%
LOWS: 46° to 54°
SUNDAY:
Mostly Sunny Skies
Pleasant Conditions
Light Breeze
Wind: NW 5 – 10 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 70° to 76°
MONDAY:
Partly Cloudy
Seasonable
Light Breeze
Wind: West/Northwest 10 mph
Chance of Rain: 0%
HIGHS: 76° to 82°
Sunrise: 5:45 Sunset: 8:26
Average High: 80° Average Low: 63°
Stay with Storm Team4 for the latest forecast. Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to get severe weather alerts on your phone.
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