Small groups of demonstrators marked Independence Day in New York City with coordinated protests that turned confrontational, staging one early-morning “mourning” ritual outside the federal courthouse in Lower Manhattan and later burning U.S. flags in Washington Square Park. At dawn, participants dressed entirely in black circled the courthouse at 40 Foley Square for about an hour, kneeling, screaming and declaring a “funeral” for the nation. Organizers said the action condemned what they called “sentimental patriotism and deadly militarism.” By mid-afternoon, a separate crowd gathered in Washington Square Park and set multiple U.S. flags ablaze while chanting “F**k the 4th” and “We need a new flag.” Protesters also shouted slogans against Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo, including “We reject Eric Adams” and “Cuomo lies, people die.” The events followed a call posted earlier in the day on an anarchist website urging activists to “steal and burn” American and pro-law-enforcement flags as part of a nationwide “Capture and Burn the Flag” campaign, according to reporter Andy Ngo. New York City officials had not immediately commented on the demonstrations or any related arrests.
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