Israeli Flag Vandalism Charges Rescinded: Report

PHILADELPHIA – Days after a 26-year-old man was charged with institutional vandalism, criminal mischief, and other crimes for allegedly defacing the Israeli flag on the Ben Franklin Parkway with red paint, the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office has reportedly rescinded the charges filed.

According to Philly Mag, the DA's office pulled the charges filed against Antoine Guyton, the man accused of spray painting the flag red on Tuesday, May 15.

The outlet reports while the charged have been rescinded, the DA's office said the case is still being investigated.

Guyton allegedly painted the Israeli flag red just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, according to police and Philadelphia Holocaust Remembrance Foundation officials.

When police arrived on scene the suspect, later identified as Guyton, was not in the area but while police were still at the flag Guyton showed up, police said.

Guyton was then arrested, according to police.

Mayor Jim Kenney decried the vandalism as tensions are high after violence erupted in the Gaza Strip recently leaving 50 Palestinians dead and the United States officially moved its embassy to Jerusalem.
"I'm very upset to learn of the desecration of the Israeli flag that hangs along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Hate and anti-Semitism have no place in the City of Philadelphia," Kenney said in his statement. "While I understand that emotions are running high and there are many viewpoints stemming from recent violence against Palestinians and other protesters in the Gaza Strip, it doesn't warrant hateful acts of vandalism. Fortunately, due to the swift work of the Philadelphia Police Department as well as concerned residents, a suspect was placed into custody shortly after this incident occurred."

Patch has reached out to the DA's office for more information and will update the story when additional details are made available.

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