A Towson woman was arrested Friday morning on charges of destruction of federal property for vandalism during protests in Washington, D.C., according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

A criminal complaint filed alleges the 20-year-old spray painted the Columbus Fountain and flagpoles in Columbus Circle during protests on July 24, the day of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S.

Social media video showed the suspect writing “Gaza” with red spray paint on the fountain’s base, according to the complaint filed by a U.S. Park Police sergeant.

“Politically motivated violent and destructive behavior, regardless its motivation, is a crime — not protected speech,” U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves said in a news release. “Today’s federal prosecution should make clear that those who engage in politically motivated violence and destruction in the District of Columbia should expect to be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Protests erupted nationwide demanding a ceasefire, among other calls for action, in the Israel-Hamas war, which began after a Hamas militant attack on Oct. 7 that killed about 1,200 people and left about 250 held hostage. More than 40,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the war began, according to August numbers from Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Several organizations were granted permits to hold demonstrations on the National Mall and one group was granted a permit for Columbus Circle in front of Union Station on July 24, the complaint said. The U.S. Park Police revoked the permit after failure to reach the organization’s “marshal” who is meant to “ensure good order and self-discipline” during the event.

After the permit was revoked, demonstrators remained in the area. Some pulled down flags from the poles, burned flags and other objects and sprayed graffiti on statues and structures in Columbus Circle, the complaint said. The National Park Service estimated total cost for clean-up and repair of the site to be $11,282.23.

The National Park Service issued a U.S. Park Police bulletin to identify five people who they believed to be involved in criminal activity on July 24 and received two tips confirming the Towson woman’s identity.

The woman was charged with willfully injuring or depredating any property of the U.S. and was slated to make an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.

The U.S. Park Police Intelligence and Counterterrorism Unit, as well as the FBI Washington Field Office, are investigating the case. More charges are expected to come from the events of July 24, the U.S. Attorney’s Office said.