Peacekeepers show up at District 12 in order to suppress insurrection, causing Gale to come into contact with vicious new Head Peacekeeper Romulus Thread. Gale sees his home being sacked and loses it, attacking Thread and tackling him to the ground. Thread then has him tied to a whipping post as he flogs his back, much to Katniss' distress. Sure, it's mostly implied violence due to that PG-13 rating (this ain't exactly The Passion of the Christ), but it's a savage scene all the same, especially as Katniss very nearly gets herself killed when trying to intervene, until Haymitch informs Thread of who she is.