A man, identified as a former photojournalist, attempted to set himself on fire during a pro-Palestinian rally near the White House on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 5. Samuel Mena Jr. set his left arm ablaze, holding it high and screaming in pain as bystanders quickly intervened, dousing water on Mena and using clothing to extinguish the fire.
Police officers restrained Mena before transporting him to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. While being aided, Mena repeatedly shouted “we spread the misinformation,” and identified himself as a journalist.
Mena’s former employer, Arizona’s Family, owned by Gray Media, clarified that Mena worked as a news photographer for the local CBS affiliate but was off-duty and not in Washington on station business. The company emphasized its expectation for newsroom employees to maintain neutrality and objectivity. Officials added that Mena is no longer employed there.
The Washington, D.C., protest was part of a larger International Day of Action, drawing thousands of demonstrators in the capital and major cities worldwide. Protesters demanded an immediate cease-fire in Gaza and an end to U.S. military aid to Israel.
The United States’ role in the conflict faces increasing scrutiny, with reports indicating nearly $18 billion in military aid sent to Israel since the start of the Israel-Hamas war began one year ago.
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