Six Capitol Police Officers Injured in Violent Pro-Palestinian Protest Outside DNC Headquarters

A pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington turned violent on Wednesday night, leaving six Capitol Police officers injured.

Summary

A pro-Palestinian demonstration outside of the headquarters of the Democratic National Committee in Washington turned violent on Wednesday night, leaving six Capitol Police officers injured.

• Between 150-300 protesters wearing black shirts emblazoned with “Cease Fire Now” and “Not in Our Name” converged on the DNC and locked arms in an attempt to blockade the building.
• Video footage circulating online shows scores of officers in riot gear pushing back swarms of protesters, who had blocked all entrances to the building.
• Police quickly broke up the activist siege of the building’s entrances and exits and evacuated members of Congress trapped inside.
• “We were rescued by armed officers who did not know the protestors’ intent; they knew only that Members of Congress were inside, could not leave and that protestors would not let police through,” said Rep. Sean Casten in a statement on X. “Forcing police to guess intent is irresponsible and dangerous.”
• According to Capitol Police statements during the clashes, about 150 protesters were “illegally and violently protesting” and that “officers are making arrests.”
• Many protesters were arrested and at least one protester was charged with assault on a police officer.
• Six officers were injured in the clashes, with injuries including minor cuts, burns from pepper spray or being punched by violent protesters.

• According to NBC News, “IfNotNow, a group that describes itself as ‘American Jews organizing our community to end U.S. support for Israel’s apartheid system,’ said it was at the protest, and accused officers of being violent toward demonstrators.” IfNotNow claimed in a post on X that its protesters were “linking arms, threatening no one, and begging our politicians to support an end to the killing and the suffering in Gaza. Begging, peacefully, for a ceasefire.”
• CNN reported about 10 members of Congress were in the DNC at the time of the demonstration, including the top three leaders of House Democrats: Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Minority Whip Katherine Clark, and Caucus Chairman Pete Aguilar. Rep. Suzan DelBene, the chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Rep. Debbie Dingell were there as well.
• ABC News noted the members of Congress were at the DNC for a forum with prospective congressional candidates when Capitol Police evacuated them from the premises. Rep. Sean Casten posted on X he was “Grateful to Capitol Police for getting all members and staff out safely. To the protestors: PLEASE don’t do something irresponsible.”

• The Washington Examiner observed the violent pro-Palestinian protest came just one day after 290,000 people peacefully demonstrated on the National Mall in support of Israel without incident.
• The Daily Caller reported videos of the confrontation appeared to depict officers using force to remove the protesters blocking the entrance of the DNC. One video apparently showed police throwing a demonstrator down a flight of stairs.
• Breitbart covered the response from Rep. Brad Sherman, who was in the DNC building during the protest. “Was just evacuated from the #DNC after pro-terrorist, anti-#Israel protestors grew violent, pepper spraying police officers and attempting to break into the building. Thankful to the police officers who stopped them and for helping me and my colleagues get out safely,” Sherman posted on X. “Apparently, these pro-Hamas demonstrators want Republicans to prevail in the next Congressional election.”

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© Dominic Moore, 2023