A man from Virginia was arrested on Friday for allegedly spray-painting graffiti on a monument in Washington D.C. The incident occurred during protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to Congress in July.
Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi, a 26-year-old from Richmond, Virginia, has been charged with one count of destruction of federal property. Mahdawi was part of a massive protest that took place in Washington, D.C. on July 24, where thousands of demonstrators came together to express their opposition to Netanyahu’s visit.
During the protest at Union Station, a number of demonstrators took down American flags and raised Palestinian flags in their stead. Additionally, some individuals resorted to burning flags and defacing structures with graffiti at Columbus Circle, located in front of Union Station.
Videos shared on social media depicted Mahdawi scaling the statue of Christopher Columbus situated in Columbus Circle. Using red spray paint, he inscribed “HAMAS IS COMIN” on the monument, as per an affidavit from an FBI agent. Additionally, an inverted red triangle was spray-painted above the slogan, according to the affidavit.
A witness who was familiar with Mahdawi from a gym in Richmond recognized his image in a police bulletin and later provided a tip to the FBI.
“In a statement, Matthew Graves, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, emphasized that the destruction or defacing of federal property for political reasons is not considered protected speech, but rather a crime.”
Last month, law enforcement officials apprehended Isabella Giordano, a 20-year-old resident of Towson, Maryland, on a charge related to her actions. She stands accused of defacing a fountain in front of Union Station, using red spray paint to write the word “Gaza.” Additionally, she allegedly spray-painted the bases of two flagpoles located in Columbus Circle.