Many Americans spent Independence Day enjoying themselves, maybe kicking back with some burgers and hot dogs on the grill, hanging out at the pool, or just taking time to relax with family and friends. At some point in the day, you can hope, they took a minute to reflect on what July 4 represents for us as a nation--not only the freedoms we cherish but remembering those who defend those freedoms with their blood and sweat and tears..
Not everyone chose to spend their day doing that, as we wrote, with some of the participants from previous leftist riots let off the hook by progressive darling prosecutors taking part in burning the American flag instead. RedState's Margaret Clark shared what we know so far:
It's July 4th, and Americans Are Burning Our Flag—Why Are These People Even Here?
Rep. Brad Schneider (D-IL) wrote on his X account Friday about those disgusting acts--and the danger he and his family's home "more than 700 miles from the Capitol" have been subjected to by "masked demonstrators":
I’ve been disgusted by the videos and reports of individuals calling July 4th a “terrorist holiday” and burning American flags.
It’s not just happening at my office in Washington, D.C. More than 700 miles from the Capitol, my home was targeted last weekend at 2:30AM by approximately 50 masked demonstrators banging drums, blowing horns and screaming antisemitic chants.
The inspiration for the congressman's sharing his thoughts about these far-left hooligans didn't come out of nowhere, though. This was the disaster area he found his Capitol Hill office in after July 4:
My Capitol office was vandalized yesterday in a vile act of hate in which the posters of the more than 100 people still held hostage in Gaza (including 8 Americans) were ripped from the wall, shredded and tossed across the hallway. pic.twitter.com/zSh86mdvIX
— Rep. Brad Schneider (@RepSchneider) July 5, 2024
He followed the post with this, calling the vandalism "a shameful act":
This was a shameful act on any day, but especially on July 4, our country’s Independence Day. Sadly, it was but one of many hateful, un-American actions that took place across the country on the day we celebrate freedom and democracy.
His posts continued, asserting that despite what his fellow Democrats and their left flank profess, "these actions don't advance peace":
The same groups that were at my house earlier in the week marched through Chicago on July 4th, not calling for peace, but rather condemning the United States of America.
These actions don’t advance peace. Instead, they play directly into the hands of Hamas terrorists enabling them to continue to hold hostage not only those they kidnapped from Israel, but all civilians in Gaza as well.
He is not wrong. Like his colleague on that side of the aisle, Senator John Fetterman from Pennsylvania, this correct assessment of the situation is worth praising. But I'll go one step further: This is totally at the feet of the Democrats in leadership, whether that's Schumer or Joe Biden or someone else, who say the right words after the protest mobs tear up campuses, attack Jews, and now ransack the Capitol. I was told that something like this was an insurrection and merited emergency congressional action to punish those responsible. Don't hold your breath on that.
Editor's Note: This article was corrected after publication. We wrote that the congressman is a Republican; he is a Democrat. We regret the error.
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