The White House on Sunday rejected the calls for jihad and the expressions of support for the terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah heard at an anti-Israel rally outside its gates on Saturday.
“President Biden has always been clear that every American has the right to peacefully express their views. But he has also always been clear that antisemitism, violent rhetoric, and endorsing murderous terrorist organizations like Hamas is repugnant, dangerous and against everything we stand for as a country,” White House Deputy Spokesperson Andrew Bates told The Times of Israel.
Hundreds of masked, keffiyeh-clad protesters expressed open support for Hamas and Hezbollah at the Saturday protest.
“Kill another soldier now,” “Kill another Zionist now,” and “Hezbollah, Hezbollah,” were just some of the chants heard at the rally.
One protester, in a Hamas headband, carried a bloodied face mask representing U.S. President Joe Biden. A masked protester behind him lit on fire a small American flag.
Others carried signs calling for “Intifada,” an end to “all U.S. aid for Israel,” and to “Free all Palestinian prisoners,” (most Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails are held for violent crimes).
Another read: ” ‘Jihad of Victory or Martyrdom’ Al Qassam,” referring to the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas.
Speakers chanted, “No more money for Israel’s crimes,” and “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
One speaker, after calling for a “Zionist-free Palestine,” said, “We are the true moral compass of the present and future.”
The theme of the protest was “From DC to Palestine, we are the red line: Stop the Genocide,” referring to Biden’s statement in March that Israel going into Rafah would be a “red line.”
Arguing that Biden has failed to live up to his red line, one of the organizers, ANSWER (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism), posted on its website:
“Biden can’t draw the line, but we can. On June 8, we will come together from across the country and surround the White House. Wearing red, and raising our demands high, we will show the world that we are the red line. We demand an immediate ceasefire, an immediate end to the siege on Gaza, the freedom of all Palestinian prisoners, and an end to the occupation of Palestine.”
Other organizers of the protest were Shut It Down For Palestine, a coalition of groups, which includes ANSWER and The People’s Forum, (all three have been linked to Chinese Communist Party supporter Roy Singham).
ANSWER’s website listed numerous other “endorsers,” including CODEPINK, Jewish Voice for Peace – NYC, and Al-Awda.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), a Muslim Brotherhood group, posted separately on its website encouraging American Muslims to join the protests.
During the demonstration, protesters attempted to encircle the White House, which had set up barricades in advance.
Fox News reported that protesters turned violent, defacing statues and targeting National Park Service rangers, throwing objects at one, and shouting at him “piggy, piggy, oink, oink,” and “F– you, fascist.”
