YIR: Pro-Palestinian Protester Sets Self on Fire

A protester with a Palestinian flag set themselves on fire Dec. 1 outside the Midtown Atlanta building that houses the Consulate General of Israel to the Southeast.

This story was covered internationally and according to Reuters media, the person, whom officials did not identify, is in critical condition, Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said at a news conference.

“We believe this building remains safe, and we do not see any threat here,” the chief said. “We believe that was an act of extreme political protest.”

The woman was in critical condition after wrapping herself in a Palestinian flag and setting herself on fire. It happened just after noon outside the building that houses the Israeli Consulate in Midtown Atlanta. Michael Harris, a security guard who attempted to intervene, was also injured. Both were taken to the Marcus Trauma Center at Grady Memorial Hospital.

WBS-TV Atlanta reported on Harris’ condition, “He has a burn on his hand. He has a burn on his leg between his knee and his ankle. He has another one on his ankle on his left side. He has some burns here,” said Douglas Harris, the security guard’s brother.

Romona Kea is Michael’s sister-in-law. She’s concerned this will affect him mentally.

“Post Traumatic Stress. Just the thought of it. He’s going to also need a mental evaluation in reference to that,” Kea said. “That’s just for anyone. If it was me, I would need some mental evaluation to have to deal with that.”

But they said things could be worse. The identity of the protester that lit herself on fire still hasn’t been revealed.