FACT CHECK: Viral Instagram Video Purports To Show Rioters Rushing Houses In Washington D.C.
A viral video shared on Instagram purports to show rioters recently rushing houses in Washington, D.C.
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Verdict: False
The video stems from a 2020 WUSA9 report highlighting Rahul Dubey, a D.C. resident who sheltered protestors during a city-wide curfew following the death of George Floyd.
Fact Check:
Around 300 people were arrested for protesting the Israel-Hamas War inside the U.S. Capitol’s Cannon House Office Building last month, according to The Washington Post. A pro-Palestine protest is also set to take place at D.C.’s Freedom Plaza on Nov. 4, the Real News Network reported.
“10/28/23 — Protests in Washington DC are hitting next level as rioters rush people’s houses,” the Instagram video’s caption purports. In the video, viewed over 4,000 times, a large crowd of protestors can be seen entering a nearby house.
The video is not recent and does not show the protestors “rushing” the house, however. The video stems from a 2020 WUSA9 report highlighting Dubey, a D.C. resident who sheltered protestors during a city-wide curfew. Dubey appears in the report and explained to WUSA9 that he opened the door of his home and urged protestors to “get in” and wait out the city-wide curfew.
“If ‘get in the house’ is not an indicator that one is welcome in a stranger’s home, I don’t know what else is,” Dubey explained to the outlet. “These were strangers, the invited guests, the community members and now we are family. I invited them in on Monday night and they are welcome to return here anytime,” he said.
In addition to WUSA9, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and NBC4 Washington all covered the story about Dubey sheltering the protestors.
Likewise, Dubey shared a BBC clip describing how he welcomed the protestors into his home to his personal Instagram account. In a subsequent post, the D.C. resident shared a photo of the gifts he received for sheltering the protestors. (RELATED: Video Of Protestors Allegedly Setting Police Officer On Fire Predates Israel-Hamas Conflict)
The protests occurred in response to Floyd’s death, according to WUSA9.
Furthermore, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports about recent protests in Washington, D.C., where rioters purportedly rushed people’s houses.
Check Your Fact has contacted WUSA9 for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.
