WASHINGTON, D.C. (7News) — Graffiti was spotted Tuesday morning at the National Mall in Washington, D.C. ahead of the “March for Israel” rally organized by the Jewish Federations of North America.
Organizers said they expect around 60,000 people to turn up for the event from 1 to 3 p.m. in front of the U.S. Capitol.
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Graffiti reading “Gaza will win” and “Free Gaza” were found on tents and porta potties across the Smithsonian Institution Building along Jefferson Drive SW.
7News cameras also captured a truck with “against apartheid” spray painted on it and graffiti on Metro signage.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said the National Guard will be on-site to assist local police for the large pro-Israel event after CNN reported an expected turnout of roughly 100,000 people.
Event officials will call for the release of the roughly 240 Israeli people who’ve been kept hostage by Hamas since the initial Oct. 7 attack. The event will also address the rise in antisemitism, which increased by 316% since the conflict began, according to the Anti-Defamation League.
This is not the first large-scale rally held in D.C. since the start of the war, with the previous “Stand by Israel” rally in Freedom Plaza back on Oct. 13, days after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared war and the Nov. 4 “March on Washington for Palestine” march and rally, in which organizers reported a turnout of close to 300,000 people.