The Park Police union stated that its officers 'exerted their utmost efforts' during the anti-Israel protests in DC.

The union chief claims that the staffing crisis within our agency is hindering our mission readiness.

The Park Police union stated that its officers 'exerted their utmost efforts' during the anti-Israel protests in DC.
The Park Police union stated that its officers 'exerted their utmost efforts' during the anti-Israel protests in DC.

In response to criticism that only a few arrests were made following the protests at Union Station by anti-Israel agitators defacing federal property in protest of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to Congress, the Park Police union is pushing back.

On Tuesday, thousands of Hamas supporters gathered in Washington, D.C., and vandalized federal monuments with messages supporting the terrorist organization responsible for the October 7 attacks in Israel, declaring, "Hamas is here."

Some have suggested that the number of people arrested at the protests should have been higher than the reported 23.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., criticized the lack of arrests in D.C. and questioned why leftist protesters who support terrorism and hate America are allowed to vandalize property and attack police.

Protesters-gather-for-Israeli-PM-Netanyahu's-address-to-Congress
The Columbus Memorial Fountain at Union Station during an anti-Israel protest on the day Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington July 24, 2024.  (Reuters/Seth Herald)

But the U.S. Park Police Labor Committee is pushing back.

Despite having only 29 officers on the ground, our officers worked tirelessly to protect life and property. In fact, despite not receiving any additional help from the Department of the Interior, we were able to make several arrests for charges ranging from assault on a police officer to destruction of government property, as stated by Kenneth Spencer, chairman of the United States Park Police Fraternal Order of Police.

It's disheartening to hear some Congress members and media personalities, who identify as champions of law enforcement, suggest that officers were too lenient on protesters and that not enough arrests were made.

"Our agency's mission readiness is being hindered by our officer staffing crisis. Despite a small unit of 29 officers arresting 10 individuals while being assaulted by a mob of thousands, we lacked the staffing and resources to execute a mass arrest operation."

A pro-Palestinian demonstrator sprays graffiti on Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain at Union Station
An anti-Israel demonstrator sprays graffiti on the Christopher Columbus Memorial Fountain at Union Station on the day of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington July 24, 2024.  (Reuters/Nathan Howard)

A demonstrator with a covered face was seen by Planet Chronicle carrying what looked like the flag of Hamas, while others were heard shouting "Allahu Akbar."

Protesters-gather-for-Israeli-PM-Netanyahu's-address-to-Congress-in-Washington
Anti-Israel demonstrators burn an effigy depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu outside Union Station on the day of Netanyahu's address to a joint meeting of Congress on Capitol Hill in Washington July 24, 2024.  (Reuters/Nathan Howard)

The protests on Wednesday evening were condemned by the White House as "disgraceful."

White House spokesperson Andrew Bates stated on Planet Chronicle Digital Wednesday evening that identifying with evil terrorist organizations like Hamas, burning the American flag, or forcibly removing it and replacing it with another is disgraceful.

by Brianna Herlihy

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