Kamala Harris slams ‘hate-fueled rhetoric’ as US sees anti-Netanyahu protests

US Vice President Kamala Harris has joined leaders from both Democratic and Republican parties in condemning protesters who burned American flags and sprayed pro-Hamas graffiti outside Washington’s Union Station on Wednesday. The protests took place as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed Congress.

Harris, who is the presumed presidential candidate of the Democrats, described the protests as “unpatriotic and abhorrent.”

On Wednesday, demonstrators marched near the US Capitol building, protesting US military aid to Israel during its conflict with Hamas terrorists in Gaza. Following Netanyahu’s speech, some protesters gathered at Union Station, where they burned American flags and spray-painted messages such as “Hamas is coming” and “Free Gaza” on a prominent monument.

Harris issued a statement on Thursday, strongly condemning any individuals associating with Hamas.

“I condemn any individuals associating with the brutal terrorist organisation Hamas, which has vowed to annihilate the State of Israel and kill Jews. Pro-Hamas graffiti and rhetoric is abhorrent and we will not tolerate it in our nation,” Harris said.

She further slammed the burning of the US flag.

“I condemn the burning of the American flag. 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 stated.

During Wednesday’s protests, prior to the events at Union Station, police used pepper spray on some of the thousands of demonstrators and made several arrests.

In her statement, Harris reiterated her support for the right to peaceful protest but added that “Antisemitism, hate, and violence of any kind have no place in our nation.”

The protests against Netanyahu, however, continued for the second day. After the Capitol, the Gaza war protestors gathered outside the White House and raised slogans against Netanyahu.

As per a report by the news agency Associated Press, the protesters chanted, “Arrest Netanyahu,” and brought in an effigy of Netanyahu with blood on its hands and wearing an orange jumpsuit.

Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met President Joe Biden at the White House on Thursday. Netanyahu is also scheduled to meet with Vice President Kamala Harris later.