Brooklyn Man Indicted for Burning Israeli Flag

James Carlson, a 40-year-old Brooklyn man, has been indicted for arson and criminal mischief after allegedly burning an Israeli flag during a protest at Columbia University on April 20. Carlson, who has no affiliation with Columbia, reportedly seized the flag from a Jewish man and attempted to ignite it with a lighter, although the man managed to retrieve it before it was fully burned. He was arrested on April 30 during another protest at Hamilton Hall, where he also faces charges for unlawfully entering the building and damaging police property. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg emphasized that such actions go beyond peaceful protest and endanger public safety. Carlson has pleaded not guilty to all charges and was released on his own recognizance. The indictment is part of a broader crackdown on unrest related to pro-Palestinian protests at universities across the nation.