Climate protesters BLOCK guests from entering White House Correspondents’ Dinner – as they demand Biden keeps promise to end drilling on federal land
- Activists who have taken issue with Biden’s recent approval of oil projects were seen attempting to block guests’ arrival to the Washington Hilton Saturday
- Footage shows members of the climate group shouting and egging on members of the Metro police while moving to block an official vehicle outside the venue
- The anticipated dinner draws a wide array of celebrities and media moguls to Washington, with several the high-profile attendees seen arriving Saturday night
Protesters have moved to close off access to the White House Correspondents’ Dinner – but have so far failed in their effort to bar reporters are politicians from entering.
Having promised to block all entry to the event, activists who have taken issue with Biden’s recent approval of several oil projects were seen attempting to block guests’ arrival to the Washington Hilton Saturday as the dinner was being held.
Footage shows members of the climate group, called Climate Defiance, shouting and egging on members of the Metro police while moving to block an official vehicle carting one of the many politicians or media personalities the dinner attracts.
The anticipated dinner draws a wide array of celebrities and media moguls to Washington, with some of the high-profile attendees seen arriving including Senate Leader Chuck Schumer, Vice President Harris, and the president himself.
Reality stars were also widely represented this year, with notable personalities like Lisa Vanderpump and Chrissy Teigen both seen in the ballroom where the event is held every year.
Protesters formed a blockade with hopes of preventing their entry – an effort that’s largely proved unsuccessful as of 10pm, with the dinner two hours underway.
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Protesters formed a blockade with hopes of preventing their entry – an effort that’s largely proved unsuccessful as of 10pm, with the dinner now two hours underway
The group, identified as Climate Defiance, had promised to block all entry to the event after taking issue with the president’s recent approval of several oil projects. Still stationed outside, the dinner has continued as scheduled, with no guests being barred entry as of 10pm
Still stationed outside, the dinner has continued as scheduled, with no guests being barred entry as both Biden and Daily Show headliner Roy Wood Jr. are poised to speak.
Already seated alongside his wife Jill and VP Kamala Harris, Biden said he plans to use his time at the podium to address questions pertaining to the freedom of the press and the detainment of American journalists.
The declaration incensed members of the grassroots group who had rallied to shut down the dinner, due to the president’s apparent decision to ignore their procession and what it stands for.
In statements to the media ahead of Saturday’s dinners, organizers said the blockade served as an effort to hold Biden, who just announced his reelection bid, accountable for what they claim is a failure to uphold a 2020 campaign promise.
That promise, to end all fossil fuel extractions, recently came into question – culminating in the procession seen outside the Hilton Saturday night.
The youth-led group, which was set up in January, posted a video accusing Biden of committing ‘ecocide’ – a term used to describe the destruction of the environment by deliberate or negligent action.
It has held a series of non-violent protests in preparation for the dinner including disrupting talks featuring White House climate advisers John Podesta and Ali Zaidi.
The group said it is not aiming for any protesters who join the cause to get arrested – but to gather enough people to make arrests ‘impossible’.