The Israeli Embassy hosted an event at the National Building Museum in Washington celebrating Israel’s 76th anniversary on Thursday. Attendees such as House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) offered a somber tone reflective of world events. Still, the event served as a useful reminder of pluralistic democracy and the democratic values Israel uniquely embodies in the Middle East.
A throng of approximately 50 protesters was spread out at various positions on the perimeter of the National Building Museum. This meant a large number of attendees had to walk past these protesters to get to the event’s entry line. And while a large number of police officers and Department of Homeland Security personnel were present, the noise and intimidation tactics employed by the protesters were robust. The protesters played screeching sounds emulating dying children. They shouted, “Shame on you!” at guests and accused them of being complicit in murder. They attempted to stare down every guest who walked by, often raising up red-stained hands in front of them. Some guests clearly felt intimidated, avoiding eye contact as they walked by.
