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 (7News) — A man was stabbed to death in Northwest D.C. early Saturday morning, according to D.C. police.
SEE ALSO | Police shoot knife-wielding individual at Fairfax Wawa
Officers responded to the 2900 block of 14th Street NW shortly before 1:00 a.m., where the victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
SEE ALSO | Teen hospitalized following Friday night shooting in northeast D.C.
Anyone with information about the incident is urged to contact the police at (202) 727-9099 or text a tip to 50411.
Additional details were not immediately available.
4 things to know about the weather:
- Beneficial rain
- Muggy, warm temperatures to start the weekend
- Scattered afternoon showers & a few storms again Saturday
- Drier and nice for Sunday
There’s a 40% chance of showers and a few storms in the afternoon and evening Saturday.
Sunday looks like it will bring the best weather of the weekend. We’ll start to see some cooler, drier air come in.
Big-time heat may be coming right back to the D.C. area by Wednesday of next week.
Weather radar
Download the NBC Washington app on iOS and Android to check the weather radar on the go.
10-day forecast
QuickCast
SATURDAY:
Partly sunny
Muggy
Scattered showers & storms (40% chance)
Highs: middle 80s
SUNDAY:
Decreasing clouds
Lower humidity
Highs: mid 80s
MONDAY:
Mostly sunny
Highs: upper 80s
SUNSET: 8:35 p.m.
AVERAGE HIGH: 89° // AVERAGE low: 72°
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.
Washington, D.C., has been a popular spot this summer, especially since it’s the nation’s 250th anniversary. And it’s where many Grand Canyon University students have traveled, including the campus’s student body leaders.
Associated Students of GCU President Judah Floyd and Vice President Gracie Zimbardi traveled to Washington, D.C., to participate in the Campus Victory Forum conference and celebrate the country’s 250th anniversary of signing the Declaration of Independence.
“It was a humbling opportunity to be able to represent GCU and be poured into by so many admirable Christian leaders,” Floyd said. “It reminds me of the leader I want to be as a Christ follower and as someone who’s been put in a position to have influence on the students of GCU.”
The three-day conference was organized by Campus Victory, an organization empowering collegiate leaders to step into civic engagement. It featured workshops, sessions and activities that equipped students with practical tools to step into their leadership roles.
Roughly 250 student leaders from universities all around the country traveled to the nation’s capital for the conference, where they met and heard from politicians and community leaders, including U.S. Rep. Eli Crane of Arizona.
He addressed the young crowd with a personal testimony about his experience in public leadership and gave an empowering message from 1 Timothy 4:12, which reads, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
He encouraged students to boldly press on in their positions despite their young age.
Sharing a home state with Crane was made extra special to Floyd and Zimbardi when Crane invited all Arizona students backstage to meet and have conversations with him.
“He was phenomenal,” Zimbardi said. “He talked about how being firm in our faith is so important in this time, and though we are young leaders, we do have the knowledge, experience and people to look up to, so use it. It was so inspiring to hear from him.”
When sessions concluded, students explored significant landmarks, including memorials, museums, and federal and local government buildings.
Everything was decked out in red, white and blue, with flags and banners hanging everywhere to commemorate the milestone anniversary.
Celebratory events unfolded one after another on Independence Day, finishing with the largest fireworks show in history. Some 850,000 pyrotechnic effects were detonated over 40 minutes, with thousands gathered for the once-in-a-lifetime event.
Floyd waited five hours in line to attend Salute to America 250, which concluded yearlong celebratory festivities. The six-hour event on the National Mall featured presidential remarks, musical performances and military flyovers.
“President Donald Trump talked about how America is really a land of people of faith and people who overcome challenges time after time,” Floyd said. “It really rekindled in us the spirit of liberty that we all carry as Americans and the importance of defending that liberty for generations to come.”
Military veterans were brought onstage and honored for their commitment to serving the country. Flags from every generation of America were displayed, and singer Lee Greenwood led the crowd in singing “God Bless the U.S.A.”
The World Cup was happening at the same time. While Floyd and Zimbardi were in Washington, D.C., they witnessed another level of patriotism when a Team USA vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina watch party, complete with a projector screen, was organized in front of the U.S. Congress.
“Thousands of people all wearing U.S.A. jerseys were shouting and screaming and spraying water in the sky when we scored a goal. It was deafening,” Floyd said.
As the start of academic year approaches, Floyd and Zimbardi’s tenure as student body president and vice president will soon commence.
The duo said that participating in the Campus Victory Forum conference, networking with student body presidents and vice presidents from other universities, and witnessing everyone’s patriotism prepared them to lead with passion and boldness.
“It means a lot to me that someone in this organization thought of us, GCU, and said, ‘We need them there.’ Zimbardi said. “It was really unique hearing from other students about how they do things at other universities.
“We got to sit down and spitball back and forth. We talked about things like, ‘Wow, that’s what works for you? We are struggling in that area, do you mind if we try it?’ Having conversations like that is extremely helpful, and it is cool how unified we can all become.”
***
Related content:
GCU News: Ingram Honors students visit nation’s capital in honor of its 250th anniversary
GCU News: Critical Mass in harmony with national jubilee of prayer in Washington, D.C.
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