Richmond-area activist sentenced for damaging government property at protest
VENN
RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- A pro-Palestine activist from the Richmond area was sentenced in U.S. District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to destruction of government property earlier this year.
According to a release from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), this sentencing comes after 26-year-old Zaid Mohammed Mahdawi was charged with destruction of government property following a protest rally that occurred in Washington D.C. on July 24, 2024.
Still from USPP footage showing Zaid Mahdawi (circled in yellow) beginning to climb the Columbus monument in Washington, D.C. on July 24. (Photo: U.S. Department of Justice)
Still from USPP footage showing Zaid Mahdawi (circled in yellow) beginning to climb the Columbus monument in Washington, D.C. on July 24. (Photo: U.S. Department of Justice)
Still from USPP footage showing Zaid Mahdawi (circled in yellow) beginning to climb the Columbus monument in Washington, D.C. on July 24. (Photo: U.S. Department of Justice)
Mahdawi pleaded guilty on Jan. 23 to the charge, which he received after spray-painting "HAMAS IS COMIN" on the Columbus Circle monument after an authorized demonstration that had taken place in the area.
MORE: Richmond-area activist accused of defacing Columbus monument in D.C.
Mahdawi was sentenced to 10 days in federal prison, as well as six months of supervision. He will also have to serve 80 hours of community service and make a $1,500 payment towards restitution, according to the DOJ.
In addition to Mahdawi's charges, the DOJ said that demonstrators "pulled down flags affixed to the flagpoles, burned flags and objects, sprayed graffiti on multiple statues and structures and interfered with law enforcement's ability to place individuals under arrest."
Still from USPP footage showing what may be Zaid Mahdawi (circled in yellow) beginning to climb the Columbus monument in Washington, D.C. on July 24. (Photo: U.S. Department of Justice)
Open-source photo showing Zaid Mahdawi during the defacement of the Columbus monument in Washington, D.C. on July 24. (Photo: U.S. Department of Justice)
Open-source photo showing Zaid Mahdawi during the defacement of the Columbus monument in Washington, D.C. on July 24. (Photo: U.S. Department of Justice)
The DOJ cited several examples of video footage -- captured by both an observation post and bystanders -- that show Mahdawi climbing the monument and spray painting the, phrase as well as an inverted red triangle above it.
The flags, statues and structures in Columbus Circle are listed by the DOJ as property of the federal government, with the National Park Service estimating that it cost around $11,282.23 to clean and repair the site following the demonstration.
