An anti-Israel protester was hit in the head with a “We Love Joe” sign after unfurling a protest banner during President Biden’s speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday, footage shows.
The woman, who was wearing a hijab, had just unveiled a “Stop Arming Israel” banner in the packed Chicago arena when a man standing several rows behind her began poking her with his pro-Biden sign.
A video circulating on social media shows the moment the man leaned forward with the three-foot sign and struck the protester repeatedly on the top of the head.
Meanwhile, other people in the crowd attempted to cover the woman’s sign with their own large placards, as seen in various clips.
A man also physically attempted to snatch the pro-Gaza banner from the hands of the woman and those around her.
Protesters began chanting “We Love Joe” moments after the banner was unveiled.
Eventually, the lights above the woman and her fellow anti-Israel protesters were turned off — and they were ejected from the convention, tweeted a Washington Post reporter who witnessed the ordeal.
The incident sparked outrage on social media, with many criticising the man for attacking the Muslim woman.
“Who is the man who hit the Muslim woman holding the banner with her placard on her head?” one person tweeted. “She needs to be identified and she needs to file a complaint.”
Another said: “Why are they doing this? They’re just holding up a banner. It’s ugly.”
Biden, for his part, referred to the war against Israel several times during his speech, promising to bring Hamas hostages home and end “civilian suffering” in the Gaza Strip.
“We will continue to work to bring the hostages home, end the war in Gaza, and bring peace and security to the Middle East,” Biden said.
“Those people down the street are right: a lot of innocent people are being killed on both sides,” he added.
Earlier, anti-Israel protesters took to the streets outside the convention, criticizing the commander-in-chief for his support for the Jewish state.
