In a startling act of protest, photojournalist Samuel Mena Jr. set his arm on fire during an anti-Israel demonstration near the White House in Washington on Saturday. Mena, expressing his frustration with the media’s portrayal of the Gaza conflict, ignited his left arm in front of onlookers, prompting a swift response from bystanders and law enforcement, reported The Times of India.
According to the New York Post, Mena, 36, who works with AZFamily, a CBS affiliate, was quickly helped by DC Fire and EMS, who transported him to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The Metropolitan Police Department later issued a statement, affirming their support for peaceful protests while ensuring that criminal actions would be addressed.
Video footage captured the dramatic moment, showing Mena holding his burning arm aloft, crying out in pain. People nearby rushed to douse the flames with water and clothing. In the chaos, Mena shouted, “We spread the misinformation,” expressing his anger over how the media has reported on the Gaza conflict. He also identified himself as a journalist while police restrained him.
Earlier in the day, Mena had published a blog post questioning the objectivity of media outlets regarding the Gaza war. He symbolically dedicated his left arm to the 10,000 children in Gaza who had lost limbs during the conflict, calling attention to their suffering.
The protest took place at 5:45 p.m. near the White House on 16th Street and was part of a larger demonstration demanding a ceasefire in Gaza. The rally coincided with the one-year anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel, which resulted in the deaths of 1,200 Israelis. Protesters also condemned the Israeli military actions, which have reportedly led to the deaths of 40,000 Palestinians over the past year.
Mena, a graduate of Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism, has been using his platform to challenge what he believes is a biased media narrative surrounding the Gaza conflict.
His protests have sparked debate on the responsibilities and ethics of journalists in conflict reporting.
