Protests against Israeli leader’s DC visit block off Union Station on top of slew of road closures - WTOP News (2024)

Listen now to WTOP News WTOP.com | Alexa | Google Home | WTOP App | 103.5 FM

As closures change, listen live to WTOP for the latest traffic updates on the 8s.

Pro-Palestinian protesters gathered around D.C.’s Union Station on Wednesday afternoon amid Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the District for a speech before Congress, leading police to block off most entrances to the station.

The crowd set fires, defaced monuments in the area and scuffled with police, according to WTOP reporters who were at the scene.

Virginia Railway Express said in a post on X that Amtrak Police closed every entrance to the station except the entrance on the west side and that passengers were required to show their paper or mobile train tickets to gain access to the station.

ATTENTION UNION STATION PASSENGERS: Amtrak police have closed every entrance to the station except the entrance on the west side (Metrorail/First Street). Passengers will be required to show their paper or mobile train tickets to gain access to Union Station today. pic.twitter.com/JROIrsyM5h

— Virginia Railway Express (@VaRailExpress) July 24, 2024

Protesters were gathered at Columbus Circle just outside Union Station, and WTOP’s Mike Murillo reported from the scene that they were defacing monuments and statues there with red and green paint — colors on the Palestinian flag. Demonstrators were painting messages such as “Free Gaza” and “Hamas is comin” on the monuments.

Around 3:20 p.m., U.S. Park Police posted on X that protesters were engaged in criminal activity and confronting law enforcement at Columbus Circle. About 20 minutes later, USPP said the permit for the gathering had been revoked and the area should be cleared.

WTOP’s Nick Iannelli, who was also reporting from the scene, said many of the protesters had been cleared out by around 4:20 p.m.

“The smoke has literally cleared. Protesters were starting fires and I’m actually looking at a charred shopping cart with a flame still going. So they had started fires here and the smoke has cleared and you look around, and the statues outside Union Station are absolutely covered with profane graffiti. There’s trash littered everywhere.”

Iannelli reported that police arrested some demonstrators, and as that was happening, a dense crowd formed and began chanting, “Let them go! Let them go!”

“It is just locked down, a really intense atmosphere with all the security. And there were those arrests and there was that heightened moment, an uneasy moment, with a lot of people surrounding just a handful of police officers as they were making those arrests. But now, as I say, the smoke has cleared and it’s a complete mess outside Union Station.”

• Israel’s Netanyahu walks political tightrope on Washington trip following Biden’s exit from race

The following street closures are in effect as of Wednesday, July 24 until further notice:

• 3300-3400 blocks of 39th Street NW between Newark and Macomb streets
• 3800-3900 blocks of Macomb Street NW between Idaho and Massachusetts avenues

Posted closures during Netanyahu’s visit

Earlier, D.C. police said that a “dignitary visit” would close some roads and restrict parking in the District for about week. Here’s what you need to know.

The closures started on Sunday and are expected to last through Saturday, July 27.

The following streets are posted as Emergency No Parking through Saturday, July 27 at 3 p.m.:

• Virginia Avenue NW from Rock Creek Parkway to New Hampshire Avenue
• Jamal Khashoggi Way from Virginia Avenue to F Street NW
• F Street NW from Rock Creek Parkway to 25th Street
• 27th Street NW from Virginia Avenue to K Street
• 2600 block of I Street NW

The following streets will be closed to vehicle traffic on Sunday, July 21 starting at 10 p.m. through Friday, July 26 at 6 a.m.:

• Rock Creek Parkway NW between Virginia Avenue and the Potomac River Freeway southbound
• Virginia Avenue NW from Rock Creek Parkway to New Hampshire Avenue (eastbound lanes)
• Jamal Khashoggi Way (southbound lanes) between Virginia Avenue and F Street NW
• F Street NW from Rock Creek Parkway to 25th Street
• 27th Street NW from Virginia Avenue to K Street
• 2600 block of I Street NW
• 27th Street ramp from northbound Potomac River Freeway

Traffic traveling south on Rock Creek Parkway will be diverted east on I Street from Virginia Avenue NW to Potomac River Freeway. Westbound traffic on Virginia Avenue NW will be able to turn north on Rock Creek Parkway.

All traffic from Ohio Drive, SW will be diverted north on Potomac River Freeway.

The following streets in the area of the U.S. Capitol will be posted as Emergency No Parking on Wednesday, July 24 at 5 a.m. through 6 p.m.:

• Pennsylvania Avenue NW between 7th and 3rd streets
• Constitution Avenue NW between 15th and 3rd streets
• Independence Avenue SW between 14th and 3rd streets
• Maryland Avenue SW between Independence Avenue and 3rd Street
• 3rd Street between Constitution Avenue NW and Independence Avenue, SW
• 7th Street between Pennsylvania Avenue NW and Independence Avenue, SW
• Jefferson Drive NW between 3rd and 7th streets
• Madison Drive NW between 3rd and 7th streets

The following street will be closed to traffic on Wednesday, July 24 at 5 a.m. through 6 p.m.:

• Pennsylvania Avenue, NW between Constitution Avenue and 3rd Street

Due to First Amendment activity, plan for intermittent street closures and traffic delays, D.C. police said. Police are advising drivers to consider alternative routes.

Motorists can access businesses and residences around the Watergate Hotel in the Foggy Bottom neighborhood through Jamal Khashoggi Way and 25th Street NW and 27th Street and Virginia Avenue NW.

Residents can access the Watergate Hotel on foot by 27th Street and Virginia Avenue NW, 25th Street and Jamal Khashoggi Way NW and 25th Street and F Street NW.

Get breaking news and daily headlines delivered to your email inbox by signing up here.

© 2024 WTOP. All Rights Reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.