WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities have charged a man with burning an American flag in the nation’s capital during protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress in July.
Michael Snow Jr., 24, of Durham, North Carolina, is charged with destruction of federal property following the burning of the flag that was taken down on Columbus Circle – in front of Union Station – by protesters calling for an end to the war in Gaza.
Authorities say video shows Snow shouting, “I need a better lighter!” after initially failing to light the flag. Someone then handed him a bottle of lighter fluid, which he used to extinguish the flag before he and another person set it on fire. say the authorities.
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“Stealing a federal flag and burning it is not speech, it is destruction of federal property,” said Matthew Graves, the U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia.
No attorney was listed on Snow’s docket, and a message seeking comment was left at a number listed for him in public records.
Thousands of protesters converged on Washington in July to condemn Netanyahu during his speech to Congress, in which the prime minister vowed a “total victory” against Hamas in a scathing speech.
Outside Union Station, protesters sprayed graffiti on a monument to Christopher Columbus and raised Palestinian flags in place of the American flags that had been removed.
A group of protesters had a permit to demonstrate in front of Union Station, but the U.S. Park Police said it revoked the permit after being unable to reach protest organizers that afternoon.
The National Park Service estimated it cost more than $11,000 to clean up the site and repair the damage.
