Israel and West Bank Settlements

[cradleandshoot]

Vietnam and Korea.not to mention the US and UK in 1814.

Well my memory tells me that North Vietnam won. North Korea and South Korea are still technically at war. They have survived via a truce since 1953. It happens to be the most volatile and uneasy truce on the planet. Did you know American soldiers still do combat patrols along the DMZ along with the ROK army? Why occasionally now and then when they are bored the Norks will take a few pot shots at our troops. I'm beginning to wonder how you interpret how wars are won and lost. I bet if I did a little bit of digging I could find some of George Pattons opinions about who winners and losers historically are when it comes to warfare. Georgie Patton did know a thing or two about war.
As to the war of 1812 the US won because they signed a treaty. Ironically enough the Brits got their asses handed to them at the Battle of New Orleans after the war had already ended. You never heard that song?

In 1814 we took took a little trip along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Missip

We cooked a little bacon and we cooked a little beans and we culped the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.
We fired our guns and the British kept a comin there wasn't quite as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they begin to running down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

FTR is that song historically correct or did Johnny Horton get it all wrong?

Johnny Horton never mentioned that the Battle of New Orleans occurred AFTER a peace treaty ending hostilities was signed in Ghent, Belgium
so it had ZERO effect on the outcome of the conflict.

Horton was a singer not a historian.

No he didn't have to. His song made fun of the British Army and how Colonel Jackson whupped the tar out of them.

And they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles and they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go. They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch em along the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm guessing the song was never very bloody popular in Jolly old England.

At least you remember the battle happened after the war had formally ended.

I remember a lot more history than you for sure.
Despite Old Hickory's kicking British rump, they still managed to burn most of Washington DC in the summer of 1815 including the Capitol and White House in addition to the Navy Yard and many other public buildings.

Horton also famously celebrated the sinking of the Bismarck, too.

Yep, I remember that as well. Those obnoxious Brits. Bloody uncivil them of them old chap. What history is your expertise in? I may be rusty after almost 50 years. I use to have every history test and essay I ever wrote in high school. I would still have them today if my dad hadn't thrown the box out when I was in the army. How many HS students today do you know that the Battle of New Orleans was fought after the war had officially ended. Without cheating do you know the only battle that George Patton allegedly lost? Remember...no cheating.
FTR your history is a bit rusty. The British burned DC in the summer of 1814. You were close, you were only off by 1 year.

Now don't you just feel silly right about now? I never even went to college.

Touche' Cradle.....

Have not done any surveys on the Battle of New Orleans lately. Maybe something you can look up.

Unless you want to name the first six frigates commissioned into the US Navy? I'll wait.

Well I'm not a not a Navy man. I would be forced to cheat and that isn't playing by the rules. I do know the only worthwhile tank the US Army had in inventory at the very start of the war was the M3 J.E.B. Stuart. A retroactive name change is allegedly in the works. If my dad hadn't thrown out all my high school history stuff I'm sure I would have had an essay in the box somewhere.

FTR...thanks a lot now I have to look it up.
Mission accomplished
United States
Constellation
Constitution
Congress
President
Chesapeake
I belt Old Salt would have nailed it. Since I'm laid up for awhile I can read more about them
I'm assuming the USS Constitution is the old ironsides we all know and love still in our inventory to this day.

very good Cradle although you did have to look it up. Quite right USS Constitution is still actively commissioned in the US Navy berthed in Boston MA.

Now tell me the subject of first figurehead on her bowsprit/billethead after her original commission in 1794 - a later version celebrated Andrew Jackson in commemoration of his victory at the battle of New Orleans - try not to look it up
Here is a hint - subject is known for incredible individual strength and is NOT Hulk Hogan.

With no cheating I'll take a wild guess and say Joan of Arc. Possibly out of a way to honor General Lafayette for his service to the Continental Army.

[Kismet]

Vietnam and Korea.not to mention the US and UK in 1814.

Well my memory tells me that North Vietnam won. North Korea and South Korea are still technically at war. They have survived via a truce since 1953. It happens to be the most volatile and uneasy truce on the planet. Did you know American soldiers still do combat patrols along the DMZ along with the ROK army? Why occasionally now and then when they are bored the Norks will take a few pot shots at our troops. I'm beginning to wonder how you interpret how wars are won and lost. I bet if I did a little bit of digging I could find some of George Pattons opinions about who winners and losers historically are when it comes to warfare. Georgie Patton did know a thing or two about war.
As to the war of 1812 the US won because they signed a treaty. Ironically enough the Brits got their asses handed to them at the Battle of New Orleans after the war had already ended. You never heard that song?

In 1814 we took took a little trip along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Missip

We cooked a little bacon and we cooked a little beans and we culped the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.
We fired our guns and the British kept a comin there wasn't quite as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they begin to running down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

FTR is that song historically correct or did Johnny Horton get it all wrong?

Johnny Horton never mentioned that the Battle of New Orleans occurred AFTER a peace treaty ending hostilities was signed in Ghent, Belgium
so it had ZERO effect on the outcome of the conflict.

Horton was a singer not a historian.

No he didn't have to. His song made fun of the British Army and how Colonel Jackson whupped the tar out of them.

And they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles and they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go. They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch em along the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm guessing the song was never very bloody popular in Jolly old England.

At least you remember the battle happened after the war had formally ended.

I remember a lot more history than you for sure.
Despite Old Hickory's kicking British rump, they still managed to burn most of Washington DC in the summer of 1815 including the Capitol and White House in addition to the Navy Yard and many other public buildings.

Horton also famously celebrated the sinking of the Bismarck, too.

Yep, I remember that as well. Those obnoxious Brits. Bloody uncivil them of them old chap. What history is your expertise in? I may be rusty after almost 50 years. I use to have every history test and essay I ever wrote in high school. I would still have them today if my dad hadn't thrown the box out when I was in the army. How many HS students today do you know that the Battle of New Orleans was fought after the war had officially ended. Without cheating do you know the only battle that George Patton allegedly lost? Remember...no cheating.
FTR your history is a bit rusty. The British burned DC in the summer of 1814. You were close, you were only off by 1 year.

Now don't you just feel silly right about now? I never even went to college.

Touche' Cradle.....

Have not done any surveys on the Battle of New Orleans lately. Maybe something you can look up.

Unless you want to name the first six frigates commissioned into the US Navy? I'll wait.

Well I'm not a not a Navy man. I would be forced to cheat and that isn't playing by the rules. I do know the only worthwhile tank the US Army had in inventory at the very start of the war was the M3 J.E.B. Stuart. A retroactive name change is allegedly in the works. If my dad hadn't thrown out all my high school history stuff I'm sure I would have had an essay in the box somewhere.

FTR...thanks a lot now I have to look it up.
Mission accomplished
United States
Constellation
Constitution
Congress
President
Chesapeake
I belt Old Salt would have nailed it. Since I'm laid up for awhile I can read more about them
I'm assuming the USS Constitution is the old ironsides we all know and love still in our inventory to this day.

very good Cradle although you did have to look it up. Quite right USS Constitution is still actively commissioned in the US Navy berthed in Boston MA.

Now tell me the subject of first figurehead on her bowsprit/billethead after her original commission in 1794 - a later version celebrated Andrew Jackson in commemoration of his victory at the battle of New Orleans - try not to look it up
Here is a hint - subject is known for incredible individual strength and is NOT Hulk Hogan.

With no cheating I'll take a wild guess and say Joan of Arc. Possibly out of a way to honor General Lafayette for his service to the Continental Army.

BZZZZT Wrong!
Nice try, though

A hint - women were not that highly thought of in 1794.
Lafayette - a good guess but also wrong - note my original hint

[cradleandshoot]

Vietnam and Korea.not to mention the US and UK in 1814.

Well my memory tells me that North Vietnam won. North Korea and South Korea are still technically at war. They have survived via a truce since 1953. It happens to be the most volatile and uneasy truce on the planet. Did you know American soldiers still do combat patrols along the DMZ along with the ROK army? Why occasionally now and then when they are bored the Norks will take a few pot shots at our troops. I'm beginning to wonder how you interpret how wars are won and lost. I bet if I did a little bit of digging I could find some of George Pattons opinions about who winners and losers historically are when it comes to warfare. Georgie Patton did know a thing or two about war.
As to the war of 1812 the US won because they signed a treaty. Ironically enough the Brits got their asses handed to them at the Battle of New Orleans after the war had already ended. You never heard that song?

In 1814 we took took a little trip along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Missip

We cooked a little bacon and we cooked a little beans and we culped the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.
We fired our guns and the British kept a comin there wasn't quite as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they begin to running down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

FTR is that song historically correct or did Johnny Horton get it all wrong?

Johnny Horton never mentioned that the Battle of New Orleans occurred AFTER a peace treaty ending hostilities was signed in Ghent, Belgium
so it had ZERO effect on the outcome of the conflict.

Horton was a singer not a historian.

No he didn't have to. His song made fun of the British Army and how Colonel Jackson whupped the tar out of them.

And they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles and they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go. They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch em along the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm guessing the song was never very bloody popular in Jolly old England.

At least you remember the battle happened after the war had formally ended.

I remember a lot more history than you for sure.
Despite Old Hickory's kicking British rump, they still managed to burn most of Washington DC in the summer of 1815 including the Capitol and White House in addition to the Navy Yard and many other public buildings.

Horton also famously celebrated the sinking of the Bismarck, too.

Yep, I remember that as well. Those obnoxious Brits. Bloody uncivil them of them old chap. What history is your expertise in? I may be rusty after almost 50 years. I use to have every history test and essay I ever wrote in high school. I would still have them today if my dad hadn't thrown the box out when I was in the army. How many HS students today do you know that the Battle of New Orleans was fought after the war had officially ended. Without cheating do you know the only battle that George Patton allegedly lost? Remember...no cheating.
FTR your history is a bit rusty. The British burned DC in the summer of 1814. You were close, you were only off by 1 year.

Now don't you just feel silly right about now? I never even went to college.

Touche' Cradle.....

Have not done any surveys on the Battle of New Orleans lately. Maybe something you can look up.

Unless you want to name the first six frigates commissioned into the US Navy? I'll wait.

Well I'm not a not a Navy man. I would be forced to cheat and that isn't playing by the rules. I do know the only worthwhile tank the US Army had in inventory at the very start of the war was the M3 J.E.B. Stuart. A retroactive name change is allegedly in the works. If my dad hadn't thrown out all my high school history stuff I'm sure I would have had an essay in the box somewhere.

FTR...thanks a lot now I have to look it up.
Mission accomplished
United States
Constellation
Constitution
Congress
President
Chesapeake
I belt Old Salt would have nailed it. Since I'm laid up for awhile I can read more about them
I'm assuming the USS Constitution is the old ironsides we all know and love still in our inventory to this day.

very good Cradle although you did have to look it up. Quite right USS Constitution is still actively commissioned in the US Navy berthed in Boston MA.

Now tell me the subject of first figurehead on her bowsprit/billethead after her original commission in 1794 - a later version celebrated Andrew Jackson in commemoration of his victory at the battle of New Orleans - try not to look it up
Here is a hint - subject is known for incredible individual strength and is NOT Hulk Hogan.

With no cheating I'll take a wild guess and say Joan of Arc. Possibly out of a way to honor General Lafayette for his service to the Continental Army.

BZZZZT Wrong!
Nice try, though

A hint - women were not that highly thought of in 1794.
Lafayette - a good guess but also wrong - note my original hint

With no cheating and directing my attention back to legendary leaders of the American Revolution John Paul Jones deserved the honor. I have not yet begun to fight. That is neck and neck with Gen McAuliffes epic reply of nuts.

[Kismet]

Vietnam and Korea.not to mention the US and UK in 1814.

Well my memory tells me that North Vietnam won. North Korea and South Korea are still technically at war. They have survived via a truce since 1953. It happens to be the most volatile and uneasy truce on the planet. Did you know American soldiers still do combat patrols along the DMZ along with the ROK army? Why occasionally now and then when they are bored the Norks will take a few pot shots at our troops. I'm beginning to wonder how you interpret how wars are won and lost. I bet if I did a little bit of digging I could find some of George Pattons opinions about who winners and losers historically are when it comes to warfare. Georgie Patton did know a thing or two about war.
As to the war of 1812 the US won because they signed a treaty. Ironically enough the Brits got their asses handed to them at the Battle of New Orleans after the war had already ended. You never heard that song?

In 1814 we took took a little trip along with Colonel Jackson down the mighty Missip

We cooked a little bacon and we cooked a little beans and we culped the bloody British in the town of New Orleans.
We fired our guns and the British kept a comin there wasn't quite as many as there was a while ago
We fired once more and they begin to running down the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico.

FTR is that song historically correct or did Johnny Horton get it all wrong?

Johnny Horton never mentioned that the Battle of New Orleans occurred AFTER a peace treaty ending hostilities was signed in Ghent, Belgium
so it had ZERO effect on the outcome of the conflict.

Horton was a singer not a historian.

No he didn't have to. His song made fun of the British Army and how Colonel Jackson whupped the tar out of them.

And they ran through the briars and they ran through the brambles and they ran through the bushes where a rabbit couldn't go. They ran so fast that the hounds couldn't catch em along the Mississippi to the Gulf of Mexico. I'm guessing the song was never very bloody popular in Jolly old England.

At least you remember the battle happened after the war had formally ended.

I remember a lot more history than you for sure.
Despite Old Hickory's kicking British rump, they still managed to burn most of Washington DC in the summer of 1815 including the Capitol and White House in addition to the Navy Yard and many other public buildings.

Horton also famously celebrated the sinking of the Bismarck, too.

Yep, I remember that as well. Those obnoxious Brits. Bloody uncivil them of them old chap. What history is your expertise in? I may be rusty after almost 50 years. I use to have every history test and essay I ever wrote in high school. I would still have them today if my dad hadn't thrown the box out when I was in the army. How many HS students today do you know that the Battle of New Orleans was fought after the war had officially ended. Without cheating do you know the only battle that George Patton allegedly lost? Remember...no cheating.
FTR your history is a bit rusty. The British burned DC in the summer of 1814. You were close, you were only off by 1 year.

Now don't you just feel silly right about now? I never even went to college.

Touche' Cradle.....

Have not done any surveys on the Battle of New Orleans lately. Maybe something you can look up.

Unless you want to name the first six frigates commissioned into the US Navy? I'll wait.

Well I'm not a not a Navy man. I would be forced to cheat and that isn't playing by the rules. I do know the only worthwhile tank the US Army had in inventory at the very start of the war was the M3 J.E.B. Stuart. A retroactive name change is allegedly in the works. If my dad hadn't thrown out all my high school history stuff I'm sure I would have had an essay in the box somewhere.

FTR...thanks a lot now I have to look it up.
Mission accomplished
United States
Constellation
Constitution
Congress
President
Chesapeake
I belt Old Salt would have nailed it. Since I'm laid up for awhile I can read more about them
I'm assuming the USS Constitution is the old ironsides we all know and love still in our inventory to this day.

very good Cradle although you did have to look it up. Quite right USS Constitution is still actively commissioned in the US Navy berthed in Boston MA.

Now tell me the subject of first figurehead on her bowsprit/billethead after her original commission in 1794 - a later version celebrated Andrew Jackson in commemoration of his victory at the battle of New Orleans - try not to look it up
Here is a hint - subject is known for incredible individual strength and is NOT Hulk Hogan.

With no cheating I'll take a wild guess and say Joan of Arc. Possibly out of a way to honor General Lafayette for his service to the Continental Army.

BZZZZT Wrong!
Nice try, though

A hint - women were not that highly thought of in 1794.
Lafayette - a good guess but also wrong - note my original hint

With no cheating and directing my attention back to legendary leaders of the American Revolution John Paul Jones deserved the honor. I have not yet begun to fight. That is neck and neck with Gen McAuliffes epic reply of nuts.

Another nice try but incorrect. I'll give you one more chance -
Clue - think of a persona of epic physical strength akin to those hull timbers of both American White and Live Oak that gave the ship her nom de plume - Old Ironsides


Because you will never get the correct answer without looking it up - HERCULES is the correct answer.

[dislaxxic]

Big friend of Israel. Not so much, of Bibi.

Harris comes out strongly on why a 2 state solution MUST be at the root of any long term solution in the ME...

..

[cradleandshoot]

Big friend of Israel. Not so much, of Bibi.

Harris comes out strongly on why a 2 state solution MUST be at the root of any long term solution in the ME...

..

That might be a realistic possibility if Hamas, Hezbollah and Iran decide they really don't intend to wipe Israel off the face of the earth.

[OCanada]

Bennie opposes a two state solution under any circumstances. He wants the land. Always has wanted the land. His speech was a joke. Anything leas than a teo state solution will lead to endless warfare esp given how much Arab land Israel has already taken.

[a fan]

Big friend of Israel. Not so much, of Bibi.

Harris comes out strongly on why a 2 state solution MUST be at the root of any long term solution in the ME...

..

How long have we been talking about a 2 State solution? Decades, yeah? And no one does anything about it.

The EU, US, and Arab States need to get together and do it. Put together a plan, and don't invite Israel or Palestine.....they have had their chance, and then some, to fix this stupid, pointless mess.

And then send in UN Troops to enforce the new setup. And neither side is happy? Then we know we have the right deal.

Then we can FINALLY move on from this insanity.

[PizzaSnake]

Big friend of Israel. Not so much, of Bibi.

Harris comes out strongly on why a 2 state solution MUST be at the root of any long term solution in the ME...

..

How long have we been talking about a 2 State solution? Decades, yeah? And no one does anything about it.

The EU, US, and Arab States need to get together and do it. Put together a plan, and don't invite Israel or Palestine.....they have had their chance, and then some, to fix this stupid, pointless mess.

And then send in UN Troops to enforce the new setup. And neither side is happy? Then we know we have the right deal.

Then we can FINALLY move on from this insanity.

Going to run that by AIPAC?

[old salt]

Are police afraid to intervene? Why is this allowed? https://x.com/stillgray/status/1816214041209057471

Agreed. Good question.
Where were the DC police?

https://wtop.com/government/2024/07/net ... sraeli-pm/

So why wasn't the spray painter arrested and charged? I mean he was at it for more than a few minutes?
Ditto for those pulling down flags and defacing/burning them?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va ... d-charges/

Charges dropped against 11 anti-Netanyahu protesters arrested in D.C.
The move drew condemnation from a police union official, who called it “a slap in the face to law enforcement.”

By Peter Hermann, Keith L. Alexander, Ellie Silverman, Teo Armus and Joe Heim
Updated July 26, 2024 at 9:34 p.m. EDT|Published July 26, 2024 at 7:52 p.m. EDT

Prosecutors have dropped charges against nearly half of the 25 people arrested in Washington on Wednesday during various protests over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, according to court records and officials.

The arrests by police from three law enforcement agencies occurred at a number of points and under different circumstances on a day when thousands marched through Washington, voicing their displeasure over the prime minister’s visit and Israel’s actions in Gaza.

At times, the demonstrations grew tense — particularly outside of Union Station, where protesters clashed with police, took down and burned an American flag and spray-painted the Christopher Columbus fountain and adjacent Liberty Bell reproduction with messages like “Free Gaza,” “All zionists are bastards,” and “Hamas is Comin’.”

Police union officials said they were frustrated to see prosecutors walk away from the cases — or, in some instances, reduce the charges — and concerned that their own staffing levels did not allow them to detain as many people as they would have liked. Officials with the D.C. attorney general’s office and the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office, which handle such prosecutions, declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing investigation.

It is possible that some of the dropped cases could be revived, or that others could be tracked down and charged later.

Not all of those arrested were alleged to have been involved in taking down American flags or violent confrontations with police; the group also included six relatives of hostages being held in Gaza. Brianna Burch, a Capitol Police spokeswoman, said one or two of those protesters, who wore yellow shirts emblazoned with “Seal the Deal” to indicate they want Netanyahu to negotiate the return of hostages, stood up during the prime minister’s speech in “an act coordinated with other protestors who were wearing the same expressive t-shirts.”

Those protesters appeared to be in the group that had their cases dropped; there were no court records Friday reflecting their charges, though prosecutors declined to say specifically what happened after their arrests. The D.C. attorney general’s office would only confirm that it dropped 11 of the 25 cases, which had charged offenders with misdemeanor crimes including crossing police lines and disorderly conduct.

“It’s a slap in the face to law enforcement who are doing their jobs and these prosecutors throw these charges out,” said Gus Papathanasiou, chairman of the U.S. Capitol Police labor committee. “Shame on them for … giving free passes to criminals.”

Court records show 13 people are currently charged with various crimes. Eight appeared in D.C. Superior Court and five were issued criminal citations and released and ordered to appear for a future court date.

Police arrested one juvenile, a 15-year-old from Ohio who is charged with assaulting a police officer. The status of that case could not be determined because of juvenile privacy rules.

Ten people were arrested by U.S. Park Police at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station. Court records show people in that group were hit with the most serious charges over trying to take down an American flag and assaulting police officers.

But two of those who police said were arrested appeared to have had their cases dropped, as court records did not show any pending charges against them.

Documents filed in D.C. Superior Court revealed new allegations from Park Police about the volatile clashes in front of Union Station with members of a protest group police identified as the ANSWER Coalition, an antiwar organization that frequently organizes protests in the District and has disputed that Wednesday’s demonstrations were violent.

Brian Becker, national director of the ANSWER Coalition, characterized the Park Police’s allegations as “one more false representation about the events that day” and said police have “no proof” these demonstrators were part of the coalition.

In arrest affidavits, Park Police officers said that around 3 p.m., they saw people climbing the Christopher Columbus statue and spray-painting pro-Hamas slogans on it. Other officers saw people spray-painting a bell. Then, police said they saw two people climb the base of a statue and flagpole, including at least two who were 10 to 15 feet off the ground “manipulating the rope and unraveling it from the pole.”

The affidavit says Sonia Krishan, 21, of Kensington, was about 15 feet up the flagpole and “pulling on the flag line.” Two Park Police officers pulled her down, the affidavit states, and handcuffed her. They said she resisted and had to be carried out of the crowd. Martine Kaplan, an attorney representing Krishan, declined to comment.

Meanwhile, police alleged in the arrest affidavit that Nathanial Lawrence, 19, was at the base of the flagpole “helping to tear down the American flag.” Police said Lawrence ran as officers approached him, and they tackled and arrested him. As they handcuffed Lawrence, police alleged, officers were “assaulted by members of the crowd who were attempting to help Lawrence escape police custody.”

In an interview Friday, Lawrence said he spent about 24 hours in jail before being released. Lawrence said he saw people in the crowd waving Palestinian flags and thought “it didn’t seem right” that the American flag was flying higher. He said those protesting on Wednesday were fighting for those suffering in Gaza while the U.S. government “just stands there and lets it happen.”
So, Lawrence said, he climbed up the flagpole and began trying to take down the flag as another protester climbed up to help him. Then, Lawrence said, he saw several police officers heading toward him and ran.
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he said.

A third person at the flagpole, Roger Miller, 43, of Baltimore, was also arrested, and police alleged demonstrators sought to interfere with officers taking him into custody. Mark Goldstone, an attorney representing him, declined to comment.

Park Police initially charged Krishan, Lawrence and Miller with several criminal counts including defacing public property, fighting and disorderly conduct. But prosecutors with the U.S. attorney’s office for D.C. filed a single charge against each of the three: attempted theft, alleging they attempted to wrongfully obtain and use property belonging to the U.S. government: the American flag. They were not alleged to have been involved in the flag burning, which occurred after their arrests.

Following those arrests, the Park Police said, “multiple protesters refused our commands to back up,” and officers moved to the northeast side of the park while the crowd followed.

Police said Essa Elies Ejelat, 33, of Yonkers, N.Y., pointed at an officer with his right hand and threatened him. He was arrested and charged with threatening to do bodily harm to a police officer. His attorney declined to comment Friday.

About 3:45 p.m., in a separate part of the Columbus Circle park, police said they arrested three people carrying weapons, including bats, batons, shields and a dart gun typically used for hunting. Frederick Coates, 25, of Bowie, Momamome Crow, 23, of D.C. and Antonio Somerville, 23, of Bowie, were each charged with one count of carrying concealed weapons. Coates and his attorney could not be immediately reached for comment. An attorney representing Momamome declined to comment.

Park Police also arrested Zachary Kam, 34, of Chicago, charging him with two counts of assaulting police officers. Police allege he pulled on the back of two officers’ protective vests, forcing them to the ground and injuring one. Reached on Friday, Kam’s wife declined to comment and said Kam was unavailable.

Kenneth Spencer, chairman of the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police, said the officers “did everything they could” to protect property, but had only 29 officers available, with additional help from the Interior Department.

“A small unit of 29 officers arrested 10 individuals while being assaulted by a mob of thousands,” Spencer said in a statement. “We simply did not have the staffing or resources to accomplish a mass arrest operation.”

It is not uncommon for prosecutors to initially decline to press charges against individuals arrested during protests, especially those that turn violent, said Rizwan Qureshi, former assistant U.S. attorney for the District.

Police arrested 10 people at Columbus Circle outside Union Station. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP/Getty Images)
“Police on the street are making a decision that is in a much shorter defined period of time and make a decision quickly, especially when dealing with riotous behavior in order to get some order quickly,” Qureshi said. “But when prosecutors bring cases, they have an obligation to look at the evidence individually and determine if they can present these facts and prove beyond a reasonable doubt the offense here.”

But Qureshi — who was involved in prosecuting those arrested amid violent demonstrations during President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a case that ended with a large number of dismissals — added that prosecutors could refile cases if more evidence emerges.

The demonstrations in the D.C. area have continued after Netanyahu’s speech. On Friday, Virginia Department of Transportation officials cleared a months-long pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Arlington home of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. A small group of protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza had camped outside his house — erecting tents, chanting and waving flags since the winter.

Ellen Kamilakis, a spokeswoman for VDOT, said officials had determined that “the present condition” of the road, including “people, as well as concrete barriers, tents, flags, and other items occupying VDOT’s right-of-way — is unsafe for motorists, bikers, and pedestrians and blocks access to emergency vehicles and personnel.”

Two demonstrators present at the site left voluntarily after being asked to do so by Virginia State Police officers also present at the removal, officials said.

[cradleandshoot]

Are police afraid to intervene? Why is this allowed? https://x.com/stillgray/status/1816214041209057471

Agreed. Good question.
Where were the DC police?

https://wtop.com/government/2024/07/net ... sraeli-pm/

So why wasn't the spray painter arrested and charged? I mean he was at it for more than a few minutes?
Ditto for those pulling down flags and defacing/burning them?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va ... d-charges/

Charges dropped against 11 anti-Netanyahu protesters arrested in D.C.
The move drew condemnation from a police union official, who called it “a slap in the face to law enforcement.”

By Peter Hermann, Keith L. Alexander, Ellie Silverman, Teo Armus and Joe Heim
Updated July 26, 2024 at 9:34 p.m. EDT|Published July 26, 2024 at 7:52 p.m. EDT

Prosecutors have dropped charges against nearly half of the 25 people arrested in Washington on Wednesday during various protests over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, according to court records and officials.

The arrests by police from three law enforcement agencies occurred at a number of points and under different circumstances on a day when thousands marched through Washington, voicing their displeasure over the prime minister’s visit and Israel’s actions in Gaza.

At times, the demonstrations grew tense — particularly outside of Union Station, where protesters clashed with police, took down and burned an American flag and spray-painted the Christopher Columbus fountain and adjacent Liberty Bell reproduction with messages like “Free Gaza,” “All zionists are bastards,” and “Hamas is Comin’.”

Police union officials said they were frustrated to see prosecutors walk away from the cases — or, in some instances, reduce the charges — and concerned that their own staffing levels did not allow them to detain as many people as they would have liked. Officials with the D.C. attorney general’s office and the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office, which handle such prosecutions, declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing investigation.

It is possible that some of the dropped cases could be revived, or that others could be tracked down and charged later.

Not all of those arrested were alleged to have been involved in taking down American flags or violent confrontations with police; the group also included six relatives of hostages being held in Gaza. Brianna Burch, a Capitol Police spokeswoman, said one or two of those protesters, who wore yellow shirts emblazoned with “Seal the Deal” to indicate they want Netanyahu to negotiate the return of hostages, stood up during the prime minister’s speech in “an act coordinated with other protestors who were wearing the same expressive t-shirts.”

Those protesters appeared to be in the group that had their cases dropped; there were no court records Friday reflecting their charges, though prosecutors declined to say specifically what happened after their arrests. The D.C. attorney general’s office would only confirm that it dropped 11 of the 25 cases, which had charged offenders with misdemeanor crimes including crossing police lines and disorderly conduct.

“It’s a slap in the face to law enforcement who are doing their jobs and these prosecutors throw these charges out,” said Gus Papathanasiou, chairman of the U.S. Capitol Police labor committee. “Shame on them for … giving free passes to criminals.”

Court records show 13 people are currently charged with various crimes. Eight appeared in D.C. Superior Court and five were issued criminal citations and released and ordered to appear for a future court date.

Police arrested one juvenile, a 15-year-old from Ohio who is charged with assaulting a police officer. The status of that case could not be determined because of juvenile privacy rules.

Ten people were arrested by U.S. Park Police at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station. Court records show people in that group were hit with the most serious charges over trying to take down an American flag and assaulting police officers.

But two of those who police said were arrested appeared to have had their cases dropped, as court records did not show any pending charges against them.

Documents filed in D.C. Superior Court revealed new allegations from Park Police about the volatile clashes in front of Union Station with members of a protest group police identified as the ANSWER Coalition, an antiwar organization that frequently organizes protests in the District and has disputed that Wednesday’s demonstrations were violent.

Brian Becker, national director of the ANSWER Coalition, characterized the Park Police’s allegations as “one more false representation about the events that day” and said police have “no proof” these demonstrators were part of the coalition.

In arrest affidavits, Park Police officers said that around 3 p.m., they saw people climbing the Christopher Columbus statue and spray-painting pro-Hamas slogans on it. Other officers saw people spray-painting a bell. Then, police said they saw two people climb the base of a statue and flagpole, including at least two who were 10 to 15 feet off the ground “manipulating the rope and unraveling it from the pole.”

The affidavit says Sonia Krishan, 21, of Kensington, was about 15 feet up the flagpole and “pulling on the flag line.” Two Park Police officers pulled her down, the affidavit states, and handcuffed her. They said she resisted and had to be carried out of the crowd. Martine Kaplan, an attorney representing Krishan, declined to comment.

Meanwhile, police alleged in the arrest affidavit that Nathanial Lawrence, 19, was at the base of the flagpole “helping to tear down the American flag.” Police said Lawrence ran as officers approached him, and they tackled and arrested him. As they handcuffed Lawrence, police alleged, officers were “assaulted by members of the crowd who were attempting to help Lawrence escape police custody.”

In an interview Friday, Lawrence said he spent about 24 hours in jail before being released. Lawrence said he saw people in the crowd waving Palestinian flags and thought “it didn’t seem right” that the American flag was flying higher. He said those protesting on Wednesday were fighting for those suffering in Gaza while the U.S. government “just stands there and lets it happen.”
So, Lawrence said, he climbed up the flagpole and began trying to take down the flag as another protester climbed up to help him. Then, Lawrence said, he saw several police officers heading toward him and ran.
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he said.

A third person at the flagpole, Roger Miller, 43, of Baltimore, was also arrested, and police alleged demonstrators sought to interfere with officers taking him into custody. Mark Goldstone, an attorney representing him, declined to comment.

Park Police initially charged Krishan, Lawrence and Miller with several criminal counts including defacing public property, fighting and disorderly conduct. But prosecutors with the U.S. attorney’s office for D.C. filed a single charge against each of the three: attempted theft, alleging they attempted to wrongfully obtain and use property belonging to the U.S. government: the American flag. They were not alleged to have been involved in the flag burning, which occurred after their arrests.

Following those arrests, the Park Police said, “multiple protesters refused our commands to back up,” and officers moved to the northeast side of the park while the crowd followed.

Police said Essa Elies Ejelat, 33, of Yonkers, N.Y., pointed at an officer with his right hand and threatened him. He was arrested and charged with threatening to do bodily harm to a police officer. His attorney declined to comment Friday.

About 3:45 p.m., in a separate part of the Columbus Circle park, police said they arrested three people carrying weapons, including bats, batons, shields and a dart gun typically used for hunting. Frederick Coates, 25, of Bowie, Momamome Crow, 23, of D.C. and Antonio Somerville, 23, of Bowie, were each charged with one count of carrying concealed weapons. Coates and his attorney could not be immediately reached for comment. An attorney representing Momamome declined to comment.

Park Police also arrested Zachary Kam, 34, of Chicago, charging him with two counts of assaulting police officers. Police allege he pulled on the back of two officers’ protective vests, forcing them to the ground and injuring one. Reached on Friday, Kam’s wife declined to comment and said Kam was unavailable.

Kenneth Spencer, chairman of the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police, said the officers “did everything they could” to protect property, but had only 29 officers available, with additional help from the Interior Department.

“A small unit of 29 officers arrested 10 individuals while being assaulted by a mob of thousands,” Spencer said in a statement. “We simply did not have the staffing or resources to accomplish a mass arrest operation.”

It is not uncommon for prosecutors to initially decline to press charges against individuals arrested during protests, especially those that turn violent, said Rizwan Qureshi, former assistant U.S. attorney for the District.

Police arrested 10 people at Columbus Circle outside Union Station. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP/Getty Images)
“Police on the street are making a decision that is in a much shorter defined period of time and make a decision quickly, especially when dealing with riotous behavior in order to get some order quickly,” Qureshi said. “But when prosecutors bring cases, they have an obligation to look at the evidence individually and determine if they can present these facts and prove beyond a reasonable doubt the offense here.”

But Qureshi — who was involved in prosecuting those arrested amid violent demonstrations during President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a case that ended with a large number of dismissals — added that prosecutors could refile cases if more evidence emerges.

The demonstrations in the D.C. area have continued after Netanyahu’s speech. On Friday, Virginia Department of Transportation officials cleared a months-long pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Arlington home of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. A small group of protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza had camped outside his house — erecting tents, chanting and waving flags since the winter.

Ellen Kamilakis, a spokeswoman for VDOT, said officials had determined that “the present condition” of the road, including “people, as well as concrete barriers, tents, flags, and other items occupying VDOT’s right-of-way — is unsafe for motorists, bikers, and pedestrians and blocks access to emergency vehicles and personnel.”

Two demonstrators present at the site left voluntarily after being asked to do so by Virginia State Police officers also present at the removal, officials said.

But...but...but...it was predominantly a peaceful protest.

[PizzaSnake]

Are police afraid to intervene? Why is this allowed? https://x.com/stillgray/status/1816214041209057471

Agreed. Good question.
Where were the DC police?

https://wtop.com/government/2024/07/net ... sraeli-pm/

So why wasn't the spray painter arrested and charged? I mean he was at it for more than a few minutes?
Ditto for those pulling down flags and defacing/burning them?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va ... d-charges/

Charges dropped against 11 anti-Netanyahu protesters arrested in D.C.
The move drew condemnation from a police union official, who called it “a slap in the face to law enforcement.”

By Peter Hermann, Keith L. Alexander, Ellie Silverman, Teo Armus and Joe Heim
Updated July 26, 2024 at 9:34 p.m. EDT|Published July 26, 2024 at 7:52 p.m. EDT

Prosecutors have dropped charges against nearly half of the 25 people arrested in Washington on Wednesday during various protests over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, according to court records and officials.

The arrests by police from three law enforcement agencies occurred at a number of points and under different circumstances on a day when thousands marched through Washington, voicing their displeasure over the prime minister’s visit and Israel’s actions in Gaza.

At times, the demonstrations grew tense — particularly outside of Union Station, where protesters clashed with police, took down and burned an American flag and spray-painted the Christopher Columbus fountain and adjacent Liberty Bell reproduction with messages like “Free Gaza,” “All zionists are bastards,” and “Hamas is Comin’.”

Police union officials said they were frustrated to see prosecutors walk away from the cases — or, in some instances, reduce the charges — and concerned that their own staffing levels did not allow them to detain as many people as they would have liked. Officials with the D.C. attorney general’s office and the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office, which handle such prosecutions, declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing investigation.

It is possible that some of the dropped cases could be revived, or that others could be tracked down and charged later.

Not all of those arrested were alleged to have been involved in taking down American flags or violent confrontations with police; the group also included six relatives of hostages being held in Gaza. Brianna Burch, a Capitol Police spokeswoman, said one or two of those protesters, who wore yellow shirts emblazoned with “Seal the Deal” to indicate they want Netanyahu to negotiate the return of hostages, stood up during the prime minister’s speech in “an act coordinated with other protestors who were wearing the same expressive t-shirts.”

Those protesters appeared to be in the group that had their cases dropped; there were no court records Friday reflecting their charges, though prosecutors declined to say specifically what happened after their arrests. The D.C. attorney general’s office would only confirm that it dropped 11 of the 25 cases, which had charged offenders with misdemeanor crimes including crossing police lines and disorderly conduct.

“It’s a slap in the face to law enforcement who are doing their jobs and these prosecutors throw these charges out,” said Gus Papathanasiou, chairman of the U.S. Capitol Police labor committee. “Shame on them for … giving free passes to criminals.”

Court records show 13 people are currently charged with various crimes. Eight appeared in D.C. Superior Court and five were issued criminal citations and released and ordered to appear for a future court date.

Police arrested one juvenile, a 15-year-old from Ohio who is charged with assaulting a police officer. The status of that case could not be determined because of juvenile privacy rules.

Ten people were arrested by U.S. Park Police at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station. Court records show people in that group were hit with the most serious charges over trying to take down an American flag and assaulting police officers.

But two of those who police said were arrested appeared to have had their cases dropped, as court records did not show any pending charges against them.

Documents filed in D.C. Superior Court revealed new allegations from Park Police about the volatile clashes in front of Union Station with members of a protest group police identified as the ANSWER Coalition, an antiwar organization that frequently organizes protests in the District and has disputed that Wednesday’s demonstrations were violent.

Brian Becker, national director of the ANSWER Coalition, characterized the Park Police’s allegations as “one more false representation about the events that day” and said police have “no proof” these demonstrators were part of the coalition.

In arrest affidavits, Park Police officers said that around 3 p.m., they saw people climbing the Christopher Columbus statue and spray-painting pro-Hamas slogans on it. Other officers saw people spray-painting a bell. Then, police said they saw two people climb the base of a statue and flagpole, including at least two who were 10 to 15 feet off the ground “manipulating the rope and unraveling it from the pole.”

The affidavit says Sonia Krishan, 21, of Kensington, was about 15 feet up the flagpole and “pulling on the flag line.” Two Park Police officers pulled her down, the affidavit states, and handcuffed her. They said she resisted and had to be carried out of the crowd. Martine Kaplan, an attorney representing Krishan, declined to comment.

Meanwhile, police alleged in the arrest affidavit that Nathanial Lawrence, 19, was at the base of the flagpole “helping to tear down the American flag.” Police said Lawrence ran as officers approached him, and they tackled and arrested him. As they handcuffed Lawrence, police alleged, officers were “assaulted by members of the crowd who were attempting to help Lawrence escape police custody.”

In an interview Friday, Lawrence said he spent about 24 hours in jail before being released. Lawrence said he saw people in the crowd waving Palestinian flags and thought “it didn’t seem right” that the American flag was flying higher. He said those protesting on Wednesday were fighting for those suffering in Gaza while the U.S. government “just stands there and lets it happen.”
So, Lawrence said, he climbed up the flagpole and began trying to take down the flag as another protester climbed up to help him. Then, Lawrence said, he saw several police officers heading toward him and ran.
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he said.

A third person at the flagpole, Roger Miller, 43, of Baltimore, was also arrested, and police alleged demonstrators sought to interfere with officers taking him into custody. Mark Goldstone, an attorney representing him, declined to comment.

Park Police initially charged Krishan, Lawrence and Miller with several criminal counts including defacing public property, fighting and disorderly conduct. But prosecutors with the U.S. attorney’s office for D.C. filed a single charge against each of the three: attempted theft, alleging they attempted to wrongfully obtain and use property belonging to the U.S. government: the American flag. They were not alleged to have been involved in the flag burning, which occurred after their arrests.

Following those arrests, the Park Police said, “multiple protesters refused our commands to back up,” and officers moved to the northeast side of the park while the crowd followed.

Police said Essa Elies Ejelat, 33, of Yonkers, N.Y., pointed at an officer with his right hand and threatened him. He was arrested and charged with threatening to do bodily harm to a police officer. His attorney declined to comment Friday.

About 3:45 p.m., in a separate part of the Columbus Circle park, police said they arrested three people carrying weapons, including bats, batons, shields and a dart gun typically used for hunting. Frederick Coates, 25, of Bowie, Momamome Crow, 23, of D.C. and Antonio Somerville, 23, of Bowie, were each charged with one count of carrying concealed weapons. Coates and his attorney could not be immediately reached for comment. An attorney representing Momamome declined to comment.

Park Police also arrested Zachary Kam, 34, of Chicago, charging him with two counts of assaulting police officers. Police allege he pulled on the back of two officers’ protective vests, forcing them to the ground and injuring one. Reached on Friday, Kam’s wife declined to comment and said Kam was unavailable.

Kenneth Spencer, chairman of the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police, said the officers “did everything they could” to protect property, but had only 29 officers available, with additional help from the Interior Department.

“A small unit of 29 officers arrested 10 individuals while being assaulted by a mob of thousands,” Spencer said in a statement. “We simply did not have the staffing or resources to accomplish a mass arrest operation.”

It is not uncommon for prosecutors to initially decline to press charges against individuals arrested during protests, especially those that turn violent, said Rizwan Qureshi, former assistant U.S. attorney for the District.

Police arrested 10 people at Columbus Circle outside Union Station. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP/Getty Images)
“Police on the street are making a decision that is in a much shorter defined period of time and make a decision quickly, especially when dealing with riotous behavior in order to get some order quickly,” Qureshi said. “But when prosecutors bring cases, they have an obligation to look at the evidence individually and determine if they can present these facts and prove beyond a reasonable doubt the offense here.”

But Qureshi — who was involved in prosecuting those arrested amid violent demonstrations during President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a case that ended with a large number of dismissals — added that prosecutors could refile cases if more evidence emerges.

The demonstrations in the D.C. area have continued after Netanyahu’s speech. On Friday, Virginia Department of Transportation officials cleared a months-long pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Arlington home of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. A small group of protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza had camped outside his house — erecting tents, chanting and waving flags since the winter.

Ellen Kamilakis, a spokeswoman for VDOT, said officials had determined that “the present condition” of the road, including “people, as well as concrete barriers, tents, flags, and other items occupying VDOT’s right-of-way — is unsafe for motorists, bikers, and pedestrians and blocks access to emergency vehicles and personnel.”

Two demonstrators present at the site left voluntarily after being asked to do so by Virginia State Police officers also present at the removal, officials said.

But...but...but...it was predominantly a peaceful protest.

"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."

H. L. Mencken

Would you prefer abolition of most of our judicial traditions? Seems like a simple, neat solution...

"“Police on the street are making a decision that is in a much shorter defined period of time and make a decision quickly, especially when dealing with riotous behavior in order to get some order quickly,” Qureshi said. “But when prosecutors bring cases, they have an obligation to look at the evidence individually and determine if they can present these facts and prove beyond a reasonable doubt the offense here.”"

[cradleandshoot]

Are police afraid to intervene? Why is this allowed? https://x.com/stillgray/status/1816214041209057471

Agreed. Good question.
Where were the DC police?

https://wtop.com/government/2024/07/net ... sraeli-pm/

So why wasn't the spray painter arrested and charged? I mean he was at it for more than a few minutes?
Ditto for those pulling down flags and defacing/burning them?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va ... d-charges/

Charges dropped against 11 anti-Netanyahu protesters arrested in D.C.
The move drew condemnation from a police union official, who called it “a slap in the face to law enforcement.”

By Peter Hermann, Keith L. Alexander, Ellie Silverman, Teo Armus and Joe Heim
Updated July 26, 2024 at 9:34 p.m. EDT|Published July 26, 2024 at 7:52 p.m. EDT

Prosecutors have dropped charges against nearly half of the 25 people arrested in Washington on Wednesday during various protests over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to Congress, according to court records and officials.

The arrests by police from three law enforcement agencies occurred at a number of points and under different circumstances on a day when thousands marched through Washington, voicing their displeasure over the prime minister’s visit and Israel’s actions in Gaza.

At times, the demonstrations grew tense — particularly outside of Union Station, where protesters clashed with police, took down and burned an American flag and spray-painted the Christopher Columbus fountain and adjacent Liberty Bell reproduction with messages like “Free Gaza,” “All zionists are bastards,” and “Hamas is Comin’.”

Police union officials said they were frustrated to see prosecutors walk away from the cases — or, in some instances, reduce the charges — and concerned that their own staffing levels did not allow them to detain as many people as they would have liked. Officials with the D.C. attorney general’s office and the D.C. U.S. attorney’s office, which handle such prosecutions, declined to comment on the matter, citing the ongoing investigation.

It is possible that some of the dropped cases could be revived, or that others could be tracked down and charged later.

Not all of those arrested were alleged to have been involved in taking down American flags or violent confrontations with police; the group also included six relatives of hostages being held in Gaza. Brianna Burch, a Capitol Police spokeswoman, said one or two of those protesters, who wore yellow shirts emblazoned with “Seal the Deal” to indicate they want Netanyahu to negotiate the return of hostages, stood up during the prime minister’s speech in “an act coordinated with other protestors who were wearing the same expressive t-shirts.”

Those protesters appeared to be in the group that had their cases dropped; there were no court records Friday reflecting their charges, though prosecutors declined to say specifically what happened after their arrests. The D.C. attorney general’s office would only confirm that it dropped 11 of the 25 cases, which had charged offenders with misdemeanor crimes including crossing police lines and disorderly conduct.

“It’s a slap in the face to law enforcement who are doing their jobs and these prosecutors throw these charges out,” said Gus Papathanasiou, chairman of the U.S. Capitol Police labor committee. “Shame on them for … giving free passes to criminals.”

Court records show 13 people are currently charged with various crimes. Eight appeared in D.C. Superior Court and five were issued criminal citations and released and ordered to appear for a future court date.

Police arrested one juvenile, a 15-year-old from Ohio who is charged with assaulting a police officer. The status of that case could not be determined because of juvenile privacy rules.

Ten people were arrested by U.S. Park Police at Columbus Circle in front of Union Station. Court records show people in that group were hit with the most serious charges over trying to take down an American flag and assaulting police officers.

But two of those who police said were arrested appeared to have had their cases dropped, as court records did not show any pending charges against them.

Documents filed in D.C. Superior Court revealed new allegations from Park Police about the volatile clashes in front of Union Station with members of a protest group police identified as the ANSWER Coalition, an antiwar organization that frequently organizes protests in the District and has disputed that Wednesday’s demonstrations were violent.

Brian Becker, national director of the ANSWER Coalition, characterized the Park Police’s allegations as “one more false representation about the events that day” and said police have “no proof” these demonstrators were part of the coalition.

In arrest affidavits, Park Police officers said that around 3 p.m., they saw people climbing the Christopher Columbus statue and spray-painting pro-Hamas slogans on it. Other officers saw people spray-painting a bell. Then, police said they saw two people climb the base of a statue and flagpole, including at least two who were 10 to 15 feet off the ground “manipulating the rope and unraveling it from the pole.”

The affidavit says Sonia Krishan, 21, of Kensington, was about 15 feet up the flagpole and “pulling on the flag line.” Two Park Police officers pulled her down, the affidavit states, and handcuffed her. They said she resisted and had to be carried out of the crowd. Martine Kaplan, an attorney representing Krishan, declined to comment.

Meanwhile, police alleged in the arrest affidavit that Nathanial Lawrence, 19, was at the base of the flagpole “helping to tear down the American flag.” Police said Lawrence ran as officers approached him, and they tackled and arrested him. As they handcuffed Lawrence, police alleged, officers were “assaulted by members of the crowd who were attempting to help Lawrence escape police custody.”

In an interview Friday, Lawrence said he spent about 24 hours in jail before being released. Lawrence said he saw people in the crowd waving Palestinian flags and thought “it didn’t seem right” that the American flag was flying higher. He said those protesting on Wednesday were fighting for those suffering in Gaza while the U.S. government “just stands there and lets it happen.”
So, Lawrence said, he climbed up the flagpole and began trying to take down the flag as another protester climbed up to help him. Then, Lawrence said, he saw several police officers heading toward him and ran.
“I’d do it again in a heartbeat,” he said.

A third person at the flagpole, Roger Miller, 43, of Baltimore, was also arrested, and police alleged demonstrators sought to interfere with officers taking him into custody. Mark Goldstone, an attorney representing him, declined to comment.

Park Police initially charged Krishan, Lawrence and Miller with several criminal counts including defacing public property, fighting and disorderly conduct. But prosecutors with the U.S. attorney’s office for D.C. filed a single charge against each of the three: attempted theft, alleging they attempted to wrongfully obtain and use property belonging to the U.S. government: the American flag. They were not alleged to have been involved in the flag burning, which occurred after their arrests.

Following those arrests, the Park Police said, “multiple protesters refused our commands to back up,” and officers moved to the northeast side of the park while the crowd followed.

Police said Essa Elies Ejelat, 33, of Yonkers, N.Y., pointed at an officer with his right hand and threatened him. He was arrested and charged with threatening to do bodily harm to a police officer. His attorney declined to comment Friday.

About 3:45 p.m., in a separate part of the Columbus Circle park, police said they arrested three people carrying weapons, including bats, batons, shields and a dart gun typically used for hunting. Frederick Coates, 25, of Bowie, Momamome Crow, 23, of D.C. and Antonio Somerville, 23, of Bowie, were each charged with one count of carrying concealed weapons. Coates and his attorney could not be immediately reached for comment. An attorney representing Momamome declined to comment.

Park Police also arrested Zachary Kam, 34, of Chicago, charging him with two counts of assaulting police officers. Police allege he pulled on the back of two officers’ protective vests, forcing them to the ground and injuring one. Reached on Friday, Kam’s wife declined to comment and said Kam was unavailable.

Kenneth Spencer, chairman of the U.S. Park Police Fraternal Order of Police, said the officers “did everything they could” to protect property, but had only 29 officers available, with additional help from the Interior Department.

“A small unit of 29 officers arrested 10 individuals while being assaulted by a mob of thousands,” Spencer said in a statement. “We simply did not have the staffing or resources to accomplish a mass arrest operation.”

It is not uncommon for prosecutors to initially decline to press charges against individuals arrested during protests, especially those that turn violent, said Rizwan Qureshi, former assistant U.S. attorney for the District.

Police arrested 10 people at Columbus Circle outside Union Station. (Matthew Hatcher/AFP/Getty Images)
“Police on the street are making a decision that is in a much shorter defined period of time and make a decision quickly, especially when dealing with riotous behavior in order to get some order quickly,” Qureshi said. “But when prosecutors bring cases, they have an obligation to look at the evidence individually and determine if they can present these facts and prove beyond a reasonable doubt the offense here.”

But Qureshi — who was involved in prosecuting those arrested amid violent demonstrations during President Donald Trump’s inauguration, a case that ended with a large number of dismissals — added that prosecutors could refile cases if more evidence emerges.

The demonstrations in the D.C. area have continued after Netanyahu’s speech. On Friday, Virginia Department of Transportation officials cleared a months-long pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Arlington home of Secretary of State Antony Blinken. A small group of protesters calling for a cease-fire in Gaza had camped outside his house — erecting tents, chanting and waving flags since the winter.

Ellen Kamilakis, a spokeswoman for VDOT, said officials had determined that “the present condition” of the road, including “people, as well as concrete barriers, tents, flags, and other items occupying VDOT’s right-of-way — is unsafe for motorists, bikers, and pedestrians and blocks access to emergency vehicles and personnel.”

Two demonstrators present at the site left voluntarily after being asked to do so by Virginia State Police officers also present at the removal, officials said.

But...but...but...it was predominantly a peaceful protest.

"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong."

H. L. Mencken

Would you prefer abolition of most of our judicial traditions? Seems like a simple, neat solution...

"“Police on the street are making a decision that is in a much shorter defined period of time and make a decision quickly, especially when dealing with riotous behavior in order to get some order quickly,” Qureshi said. “But when prosecutors bring cases, they have an obligation to look at the evidence individually and determine if they can present these facts and prove beyond a reasonable doubt the offense here.”"

I just wish a peaceful protest would resemble what the words peaceful protest are suppose to mean. I just saw one video a little while ago that showed some peaceful protesters violently assaulting and dragging a park police officer while his fellow officer stood by helplessly trying to keep the very angry and hate filled protesters at bay. Did Mencken have any wisdom to share about such violent behavior?

[NattyBohChamps04]

I just wish a peaceful protest would resemble what the words peaceful protest are suppose to mean. I just saw one video a little while ago that showed some peaceful protesters violently assaulting and dragging a park police officer while his fellow officer stood by helplessly trying to keep the very angry and hate filled protesters at bay. Did Mencken have any wisdom to share about such violent behavior?

Peaceful protests normally don't make the news. Just like trains not crashing don't make the news. 99% of protests could be peaceful but the 1% will make it onto your news feed.

Kneeling for the national anthem was a peaceful protest and half the country lost their mind.

[cradleandshoot]

I just wish a peaceful protest would resemble what the words peaceful protest are suppose to mean. I just saw one video a little while ago that showed some peaceful protesters violently assaulting and dragging a park police officer while his fellow officer stood by helplessly trying to keep the very angry and hate filled protesters at bay. Did Mencken have any wisdom to share about such violent behavior?

Peaceful protests normally don't make the news. Just like trains not crashing don't make the news. 99% of protests could be peaceful but the 1% will make it onto your news feed.

Kneeling for the national anthem was a peaceful protest and half the country lost their mind.

FTR I didn't agree personally with kneeling for the national anthem. That being said it was the bad optics it symbolized that caused all the uproar. The majority of football fans take the game and what the flag means to them very seriously. For the NFL fan who deployed to Iraq and almost had his or her ass blown to pieces they clearly and understandably didn't get the message. Kaepernick had every right as an American citizen to do what he did. As an American citizen he should have expected there would be backlash. To many Americans his kneeling was a symbol of disrespect towards flag and country. I tend to lean towards that rationale as well. This has been brought up numerous times but Mr Kaepernick could have stayed in the locker room while the SSB was being played. He chose all on his own to make his statement it had to have been important to him because the repercussions cost him his football career.

[Kismet]

Canada, Australia and New Zealand all come out and endorse an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/le ... r-BB1qEYlG

https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements ... da-and-new

[cradleandshoot]

Canada, Australia and New Zealand all come out and endorse an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/le ... r-BB1qEYlG

https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements ... da-and-new

To what end does a ceasefire accomplish anything constructive? A ceasefire is a temporary halt in hostility that could last 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or 1 year and so on. At the end of the day Israel wants the threat from Hamas eradicated and Hamas wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. A ceasefire is a good thing. A ceasefire does nothing to solve the underlying problem which will continue to fester for the foreseeable future. With no disrespect to Australia, New Zealand and Canada none of these countries truly have a horse in the race. None of the 3 countries have to deal with a credible threat of another country trying to wipe them off the face of the earth.

[PizzaSnake]

Canada, Australia and New Zealand all come out and endorse an immediate ceasefire in Gaza.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/le ... r-BB1qEYlG

https://www.pm.gc.ca/en/news/statements ... da-and-new

To what end does a ceasefire accomplish anything constructive? A ceasefire is a temporary halt in hostility that could last 1 day, 1 week, 1 month or 1 year and so on. At the end of the day Israel wants the threat from Hamas eradicated and Hamas wants to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. A ceasefire is a good thing. A ceasefire does nothing to solve the underlying problem which will continue to fester for the foreseeable future. With no disrespect to Australia, New Zealand and Canada none of these countries truly have a horse in the race. None of the 3 countries have to deal with a credible threat of another country trying to wipe them off the face of the earth.

Where’s the US’s horse? Hmm?

[PizzaSnake]

“DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes hit a school used by displaced Palestinians in central Gaza on Saturday, killing at least 30 people including several children, as the country’s negotiators prepared to meet international mediators about a proposed cease-fire.

Seven children and seven women were among the dead taken from the girls’ school in Deir al-Balah to Al Aqsa Hospital. Israel’s military said it targeted a Hamas command center used to direct attacks against Israeli troops and store “large quantities of weapons.” Hamas called the military’s claim false.”

https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas ... bfbae61e04


This is obscene.

[NattyBohChamps04]

That being said it was the bad optics it symbolized that caused all the uproar. The majority of football fans take the game and what the flag means to them very seriously. For the NFL fan who deployed to Iraq and almost had his or her ass blown to pieces they clearly and understandably didn't get the message.

Of course he stated multiple times he wasn't protesting the flag or the anthem or the country.

Maybe you can go explain their uproar to the families of the innocent black kids killed by cops.

If he stayed in the locker room, you and they would still say he was disrespecting the flag and the anthem. I guess by "peaceful" protests you really mean "no" protests?