Metro

The moment masked anti-Israel protesters set fire to American flags outside Israeli consulate

By
Social Links for Katherine Donlevy
Published June 14, 2024, 12:27 a.m. ET

Disturbing images and video captured the moment three masked anti-Israel protesters ignited a pair of American flags and an Israeli flag outside the Jewish State’s consulate Wednesday.

The American flags were nearly invisible beneath the flames as the firebirds — one of whom has racked up several arrests in the last two months — stood outside the building at Second Avenue and East 42nd Street.

One man wearing a keffiyeh and “Gaza” shirt held a burning American flag as he stood in the bike lane directly in front of an NYPD booth, whose glass reflected the bright yellow flames.

Another disguised man ignited an Israeli flag that immediately wilted and fell from the flagpole, video shows.

An American flag was set on fire by anti-Israel protesters outside the Israeli consulate in Manhattan on Wednesday.
A pair of American flags were set on fire by anti-Israel protesters outside the Israeli consulate in Manhattan on Wednesday. @samanthaettus/X

According to the NYPD, one of the three firebugs was arrested.

Jahki Lodgson-McCray, 20, of New Jersey was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree menacing, disorderly conduct and failure to use a sidewalk.

It’s not clear whether he was one of the two men holding an American flag or was the third wielding an Israeli flag.

The American flags were nearly invisible beneath the flames as the firebirds -- one of whom has racked up several arrests in the last two months -- stood outside the building at Second Avenue and East 42nd Street.
The American flags were nearly invisible beneath the flames as the firebirds — one of whom has racked up several arrests in the last two months — stood outside the building at Second Avenue and East 42nd Street. Robert Miller
Burnt debris lies on the street after an American flag was set ablaze on Wednesday in New York.
Burnt debris lies on the street after an American flag was set ablaze on Wednesday in New York. Robert Miller

The arrest marks the fourth for Lodgson-McCray in recent weeks — he racked up criminal trespassing and resisting arrest charges in May, according to the NYPD.

The identity of the other flag burners is still a mystery.

The shocking display came as other vandals splashed red paint across Manhattan Wednesday, including at a Palestinian mission and a luxury Upper East Side building.

Jahki Lodgson-McCray, 20, of New Jersey was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree menacing, disorderly conduct and failure to use a sidewalk.
Jahki Lodgson-McCray, 20, of New Jersey was charged with second-degree reckless endangerment, third-degree menacing, disorderly conduct and failure to use a sidewalk. Robert Miller

They also chucked the blood-red paint across an NYPD cruiser, photos show.

Earlier this week, paint-carrying protesters targeted the homes of the Brooklyn Museum’s Jewish director and a number of its board members.