Social media users fume after 'Free Palestine' flag removed at Bernie Sanders rally

US Senator Bernie Sanders is facing a deluge of criticism on social media after a "Free Palestine" flag unfurled by pro-Palestine activists at a rally in the state of Idaho was taken down, and the protesters were ejected from the venue.

Over 12,500 people filled the Ford Idaho Center in Nampa on Monday night, where Sanders and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urged attendees to rise above political divisions and resist what they called the increasing influence of billionaires over American politics.

Dubbed as "The Fighting Oligarchy Tour" on Sanders' website, the two politicians said they aim to "have real discussions across America on how we move forward to take on the Oligarchs and corporate interests who have so much power and influence in this country".

But at the Idaho leg of the tour, Sanders faced fierce backlash for not reacting to the police treatment of the protesters during or after the rally. 

some anti-genocide people unfurled a Free Palestine flag behind Bernie Sanders at his rally just now and police thugs arrested them as Bernie Sanders looked on and let it happen without saying a word. A minute earlier Sanders said "Israel has the right to defend itself" and… pic.twitter.com/YSecTWCYUX

— ☀️👀 (@zei_squirrel) April 15, 2025

During the rally, Sanders is reported to have said: "Israel, like any other country, has the right to defend itself from terrorism, but it does not have the right to wage all out war against the Palestinian people" and "not one more nickel to Netanyahu", causing further criticism and confusion around his silence on the treatment of the protesters at the rally. 

Notice how Bernie says NOTHING in support of these demonstrators, and does nothing to stop their forcible removal. He doesn't join his own crowd in saying "Free Palestine", because he doesn't want a Free Palestine. Textbook example of counterinsurgency. Fuck Bernie. https://t.co/swzL5I64HQ

— Victims of Capitalism Memorial Foundation (@karaokecomputer) April 15, 2025

Videos shared widely on social media appeared to show that while the protesters were being removed and the flag was taken down, the crowd began chanting “Free Palestine”, which many online thought was a significant moment, even though it received no response from the veteran US senator.

What is amazing about this is not Bernie’s shameful (and predictable) bullshit or the cops’ usual thuggery, but the crowd roaring “Free Palestine”. Worth a listen! https://t.co/QOmk7auH2l

— Laleh Khalili 🇵🇸 (@LalehKhalili) April 15, 2025

Sanders has emerged as a vocal critic of Israel's war on Gaza but has repeatedly phrased it as a conflict launched by "Netanyahu's right-wing government" as opposed to Israel itself.

In January, Sanders was the lone senator to condemn President Donald Trump's plan that Gaza's 2.1 million Palestinians be forcibly removed from the enclave, calling it "ethnic cleansing" and a "war crime".

In late March, Sanders announced he would force votes on resolutions that would block arms sales to Israel due to an escalating humanitarian crisis amid an Israeli blockade of aid to Gaza. 

"After this period, sponsor(s) of the resolution can force a floor vote on a motion to discharge the resolution from committee. The resolution is privileged, meaning it cannot be amended or filibustered, and it requires a simple majority for the motion to discharge the resolution from committee and for final passage," he said.

The 83-year-old has also come under fire for refusing to call the atrocities unfolding in the enclave a “genocide”, despite Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch repeatedly warning of a plausible genocide more than a year ago. 

I have huge respect for Bernie, but if one of the few members of Congress not funded by the Israel lobby *still* can’t say the word “genocide,” or condemn the slaughter in Gaza without throat-clearing about Israel’s right to defend itself, what hope do we have of stopping this?

— Dan Sheehan (@danpjsheehan) April 13, 2025

After the rally, many social media users argued that Sanders had “lost his credibility” for not saying that the protesters should be allowed to hold their signs. 

solidarity to those wonderful people who brought the Free Palestine banner with them and were arrested. The crowd supports them! But Bernie Sanders the Zionist coward let them be violently removed. Do this at every rally! DEMAND BERNIE SANDERS RECOGNIZE THE GENOCIDE AND BACK… pic.twitter.com/QVh2U420rh

— ☀️👀 (@zei_squirrel) April 15, 2025

Since reneging on the ceasefire deal, Israel has killed more than 1,400 Palestinians since 18 March, including hundreds of children. More than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war on Gaza began in October 2023.