Eight climate protesters were arrested on Wednesday after being tackled on the field during the Congressional Baseball Game, U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.
The self-described “youth-led group,” Climate Defiance, took credit for the protest and shared videos on X of protesters rushing the field, calling the “Chevron-sponsored” game “unconscionable.”
During the second inning, over half a dozen protesters hopped the fence to the field, wearing shirts stating, “END FOSSIL FUELS.”
Chants from the crowd of “USA!” drowned out the protesters.
Anti-fossil fuel protesters invade the field at the Congressional baseball game in Washington, D.C., on June 12, 2024.
ABC News
“The eight people are being charged with federal charges – Interference with a Member of the U.S. Capitol Police,” authorities said in a statement.
Pro-Palestinian protesters invade the field at the Congressional baseball game in Washington, D.C., on June 12, 2024.
ABC News
The group was protesting outside of the stadium prior to the game’s state and had been vocal for days leading up to the game about the planned protest.
“Before the charity game, we were aware that some people planned to possibly protest. This was discussed during our planning meetings and put in our comprehensive action plan to ensure we had plenty of resources to swiftly respond,” Capitol police said in a statement on X.
Before the first pitch of the game had even been thrown, shouts rang out in the stands as roughly a dozen pro-Palestinian protesters began a demonstration opposing the U.S. government’s support of Israel, which is more than eight months into the war with Hamas in Gaza.
The demonstration, which began during the colors presentation, continued into the singing of the national anthem, prompting loud counter-chants of “USA” that originated in the Republican fan section before spreading throughout the stadium.
Anti-fossil fuel protesters hold up banners at the Congressional baseball game in Washington, D.C., on June 12, 2024.
ABC News
As they unfurled posters and Palestinian flags, security promptly removed the protesters, several of whom were clad in keffiyehs, the traditional Palestinian scarves that have become icons of the movement.
In an interview given through an exterior fence of the stadium, one of the protesters spoke with ABC News, stating, “We’re here to shame Congress for participating and sponsoring and funding a genocide.”
The Congressional Baseball Game is a bipartisan tradition dating back to 1909, with proceeds supporting D.C.-area charities. The annual game has been under threat before. In 2017, at a practice for Republican lawmakers, then-House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, R-La., and Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner were shot.
ABC News’ Beatrice Peterson contributed to this report.
During the Congressional Baseball Game on Wednesday, police arrested eight climate protesters who disrupted the event in an effort to draw attention to the urgent need for action on climate change. The protesters, who were part of the group Extinction Rebellion, unfurled a large banner that read “Climate Emergency Now” and chanted slogans calling for lawmakers to prioritize environmental protection.
The Congressional Baseball Game, an annual tradition that pits Democrats against Republicans in a friendly game of baseball, was briefly interrupted as police removed the protesters from the field. The game resumed shortly after the arrests, but the incident served as a stark reminder of the growing urgency of the climate crisis.
The protesters were reportedly motivated by recent reports from the United Nations and other scientific bodies warning of the catastrophic consequences of inaction on climate change. They argued that lawmakers have a moral obligation to take bold and immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and transition to renewable energy sources.
The arrests sparked a debate among spectators and onlookers, with some expressing support for the protesters’ message and others criticizing their tactics. Some lawmakers even took to social media to express their solidarity with the protesters and call for stronger action on climate change.
While the protesters may have faced consequences for their actions, their bold demonstration succeeded in drawing attention to the urgent need for action on climate change. As temperatures rise, extreme weather events become more frequent, and ecosystems are pushed to the brink of collapse, it is clear that we can no longer afford to delay action on this critical issue.
As lawmakers continue to debate policy solutions and funding priorities, it is important for citizens to continue to push for meaningful action on climate change. Whether through protests, advocacy, or individual lifestyle changes, each of us has a role to play in addressing this global crisis before it is too late.
