ABC News's chief White House correspondent said Monday that acts of anti-Israel vandalism were just caused by "passionate protests."
As part of an anti-Israel protest last weekend in Washington, D.C., pro-Palestinian demonstrators called for the destruction of the Jewish state and marched to the White House, where they defaced the building's gate with red paint and anti-Semitic slogans such as "ZIONISM IS TERRORISM." For ABC News chief White House correspondent Mary Bruce, who tweeted photos of the gate, the vandalism was just the result of "passionate protests."
The White House gates this morning after passionate protests over the weekend. pic.twitter.com/gVENEMZO5Q
— Mary Bruce (@marykbruce) November 6, 2023
Tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered in Washington, D.C., on Saturday to protest the United States' support for Israel in the wake of the October 7 Hamas attacks that killed 1,400 Israelis.
After listening to several speakers, including the rapper Macklemore, protesters marched to the White House, where they smeared the gate. At least one scaled the security fence to wave a Palestinian flag.
Protesters chanted, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," a slogan that calls for the destruction of Israel, and "Long live the Intifada," referring to previous Palestinian attacks on Israel.
One speaker stated, "Israel does not have the right to exist as a racist state," while another said, "Israel can go to hell!"
The protesters also vandalized several statues and spray-painted a building near the Israeli embassy with the words "Death to Israel."
Police arrested one only vandal, possibly in connection with a McDonald's that was graffitied and had a window smashed.
ABC News did not respond to a Washington Free Beacon request for comment.