Amid unease in Israel over the growing wave of anti-Semitic protests in the US, particularly on Ivy League campuses, at a time when support is growing for the people of Gaza in the face of a sustained armed offensive against Hamas; The White House correspondents' dinner on Saturday came under fire when a giant Palestinian flag was spotted at the venue, The New York Post reports.
A group of protesters, calling for an end to civilian casualties in Gaza, draped a giant Palestinian flag over the side of the venue, even as they watched dinner guests and US President Joe Biden's motorcade enter the venue. Slogans were raised on arrival. , according to The New York Post.
Reports said some of the group of protesters also stormed the red carpet of the event.
Hundreds of protesters gathered Saturday night outside the Hilton Hotel in Washington, DC, where the White House was hosting reporters for its annual charity dinner.
According to The New York Post, video clips of protesters storming the red carpet event were widely shared on social media, reportedly showing them hoisting a Palestinian flag from one of the top floors of the hotel .
Some protesters at the red carpet event were seen carrying a large sign that read, “Biden's legacy is genocide”, while several others were seen shouting, “Stop the genocide in Gaza” as Biden's motorcade passed the hotel. Passed by, The New York Post reported, citing video circulating online.
Campuses across the US are grappling with growing pro-Palestine protests, leading to administrators implementing unprecedented measures to deal with the situation, CNN reports.
The protests, counter-protests, administrative intervention and calls from lawmakers underscore the turmoil sweeping American universities, according to CNN.
The unrest has left some students, particularly those of Jewish origin, fearful about their safety, especially during the Passover holidays, reports said.
