During a Pro-Palestinian rally outside the White House, an unexpected and alarming event unfolded when a man attempted to set himself on fire.
Samuel Mena Jr., a self-described “visual storyteller,” was seen at Lafayette Park where a large group of protestors had gathered.
Amid the crowd, Mena tried to ignite himself, leading to a shocking moment when his arm caught fire.
Dramatic Scene Captured on Camera
Photographs from the scene show Mena waving his burning arm through the air, screaming in pain as flames engulfed his limb.
Nearby police officers cautiously approached while onlookers rushed to help.
Bystanders quickly doused him with water to extinguish the flames, preventing further injury.
After the fire was put out, Mena stood in the middle of a group of police officers, visibly injured, his arm appearing severely burned and pale.
Mena’s Outcry and Controversial Statements
As Mena cried out in pain, he shouted about “misinformation” and claimed, “I’m a journalist, and I said it was okay.”
His cries were captured in a video recorded by Jessica Costescu, a bystander at the scene.
In the footage, as someone attempted to assist Mena by pouring more water on his burned arm, an officer forcefully intervened, pushing the person away and yelling for the crowd to “back it up.”
Context and Motivation
This shocking act took place just days before the one-year anniversary of Hamas’ deadly attack on Israel, which claimed 1,200 lives and sparked a full-scale war in Gaza.
Mena later posted a lengthy essay on his website, attempting to rationalize his actions by expressing frustration with “objectivity in journalism” related to the ongoing conflict in Gaza, where over 41,000 Palestinians have lost their lives.
Mena’s Background and Public Statements
Mena claims to be a graduate of The Walter Cronkite School of Journalism at Arizona State University and describes himself as a photojournalist currently working for AZFamily Channels 3 and 5.
He has also done freelance work for Arizona PBS and contributed to stories aired on PBS Newshour.
On his social media profile, Mena displays a photo of himself smiling in front of the Palestinian flag with the words “from the river, to the sea” above it, a phrase often associated with calls for the end of Israeli control over certain territories.
Before the rally, Mena had posted on Instagram that he would be streaming live from outside the White House.
In another post on the same day, he voiced his strong political stance, writing, “End settler colonialism.”
What Happens Next?
As Mena recovers from his injuries, questions arise about his motivations and the broader implications of such dramatic acts of protest.
His controversial views and extreme actions have stirred conversation, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for both Mena and the ongoing global dialogue surrounding the Israel-Palestine conflict.
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