About a dozen activists chanted “Bloody Blinken” as they waved Palestinian flags and vandalized U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s car at his Virginia home on Jan. 4.
Protesters splashed gallons of fake blood from plastic milk jugs on Blinken’s SUV, his driveway and the street as they yelled “War criminal” and “Shame on you.”
Police in yellow vests herded demonstrators away from the vehicle as it emerged from behind gates in the driveway. Later, the protesters banged pots and pans, blew a whistle, and chanted “Stop killing Gaza.”
They also waved signs that read “Our tax dollars are funding Israel’s war crimes,” “Palestinian children are not collateral damage” and “Stop the collective punishment of Gaza. Ceasefire now.” They chanted “Blinken, Blinken you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide.”
Anti-Israel activists protested on Christmas outside the homes of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Jake Sullivan, the U.S. national security advisor.
On Friday, Blinken traveled to Turkey, beginning a whirlwind tour as Israel’s war with Hamas continues to threaten to escalate into a regional conflict.
Over eight days, Blinken was also slated to travel to Greece, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Israel, the Palestinian Authority and Egypt.
“Throughout his trip, the secretary will underscore the importance of protecting civilian lives in Israel, and the West Bank and Gaza,” said Matthew Miller, the State Department spokesman.
“He will also discuss urgent mechanisms to stem violence, calm rhetoric and reduce regional tensions, including deterring Houthi attacks on commercial shipping in the Red Sea and avoiding escalation in Lebanon,” Miller added.
