Rioter sentenced for burning American flag during protest in DC
WASHINGTON (DC News Now) — A North Carolina man was sentenced Friday for damaging federal property in Columbus Circle during a July 2024 protest, according to the United States District Attorney's Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia.
Michael Snow Jr., 25, will serve 40 hours of community service and four months of probation after pleading guilty in February to destruction of government property.
Woman sentenced for spray painting fountain, flag poles during pro-Palestine protest near Union Station, officials say
Court documents say that on July 24, 2024, organizers were given a permit to demonstrate in front of Union Station. Over two hours, demonstrators removed and burned flags, sprayed graffiti on multiple statues, and interfered with officers trying to place people under arrest.
According to court documents, Snow burned the American flag at Union Station as a crowd surrounded him, chanting, 'Burn that sh**.' Surveillance footage showed two people lowering the flag, causing it to fall on the ground, with Snow picking it up.
Court documents continue by stating Snow then carried the flag towards a crowd, pulled out a lighter, and doused the flag in lighter fluid.
The National Park Service estimated the repair from the protest to cost $11,282.23.
The USAO states that a user posted pictures of the incident on X the following day, where officers were able to connect Snow to the incident.
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