Thousands gathered around the White House Saturday to demand that President Joe Biden stop all military aid to Israel amid its war against the terrorist group Hamas. The “Shut it Down for Palestine” movement, comprised of controversial groups such as Students for Justice in Palestine, organized the giant rally against Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza. 

Several organizations in the movement previously praised the Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas killed around 1,200 Israelis, raped women, and took hundreds of hostages. SJP, for example, referred to the terror onslaught as “a historic win” days after the news broke. 

Saturday’s gathering proved a striking display of unity between Muslim, Marxist, LGBTQ, and even Jewish activists. Many organizers and demonstrators made it clear that they were not just demanding a “cease-fire” between Israel and Hamas. “Resistance” against the Jewish state–and fierce anti-American sentiment–were the overall themes.

Here’s what I saw: 

Support for Terrorism

A group of masked individuals carried a sign calling for “jihad”—an Islamic term for holy war cited by those who believe God commands them to kill unbelievers—and “Al Qassam,” a reference to Hamas’ military unit. 

A man walking by told the protesters to be careful about their “messaging,” to which one replied, “shut up.” 

At least two others wore green Hamas headbands, one carrying a megaphone with a sticker on it that read, “I voted.” They frequently stuck together and led groups of people in pro-Palestinian chants. 

Another protester, an elderly man, attracted lots of attention by carrying a “stand with Hamas” sign. The Daily Signal talked to him to see whether he was serious.

His smile quickly faded as he declared that Palestinians are enduring “genocide” and must beat Israel “by any means necessary.” The Daily Signal asked what he thought about the genocidal elements of Hamas’s founding charter, which describes a “Day of Judgment” when Muslims will kill every Jew. Hamas is only “resisting genocide,” he said, his voice quivering and his body shaking with rage. 

“Got that?” he asked sharply. 

More than a few fringe actors explicitly praised terrorists at the event, however.

Protesters celebrated other violent anti-Israel groups, in addition to Hamas.

A few demonstrators made explicit attempts to distance themselves from antisemitism. Some signs claimed that “antizionism [is not] antisemitism” or that supporting the Palestinians “doesn’t make you anti-Jew.” Still, pushback against the more radical protesters proved scarce.

Vandalism

The small police presence failed to stop protesters as they spray-painted historic monuments and property surrounding the White House. To date, no arrests have been reported. The U.S. Capitol Police referred The Daily Signal to U.S. Park Police for comment, and the Park Police did not immediately respond when asked about arrests.

Protesters also left graffiti on a truck parked on a nearby curb and at least one park bench.

America Portrayed as an Enemy

Activists presented the U.S. as a force for evil due to its stance on Israel.

Calls for an End to Israel

Demonstrators strongly condemned “Zionism,” the view that Jews have a right to their own state in the current land of Israel. Speakers onstage told their allies to help “smash” or “abolish Zionism.” One man scrawled “death to Israel” on a monument. 

Agitators wrote, “Al Qassam, you make us proud[.] Kill another soldier now!” on another monument.

After a protester wrote “all Zionists are bastards” on the nearby Treasury Department building, a woman remarked, “that’s factual!”

Marxist Ideology

Protesters advocated for socialism, signaled support for the brutal Cuban Revolution leader Che Guevara, and offered copies of “The Communist Manifesto” and other Marxist writings to passersby. Protesters held signs from the Party for Socialism and Liberation, a communist political party founded in 2004. 

“F— Joe Biden”

The crowds painted President Joe Biden as a mass murderer of Palestinians in tandem with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Some held giant posters showing the heads of the two leaders with blood dripping from their mouths. Others held a small severed head of the president. 

Protesters occasionally chanted, “F— Joe Biden!”

LGBTQ Allies

Several protesters carried signs or flags promoting gay and transgender rights as they rallied for Gaza, where male homosexual activity is illegal.

Jewish Support

A few people presenting themselves as Jewish joined with pro-Palestinian protesters at Washington, D.C.’s Farragut Square shortly before heading to the White House event.

A young man wearing a yarmulke also walked around White House protesters with a sign that read, “Israel uses me as a human shield.”

One Angry Israel Supporter

The number of demonstrators significantly dwindled after around four and a half hours. At that time, a young man began kicking their signs off of the grass surrounding a monument, cursing them out, and flipping them off.

“I stand with Israel!” he yelled.

Another man followed the agitator as he walked away, filming him on his phone and asking repeatedly, “Do you support genocide?” 

The counter-protester declined an interview. 

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