Eight Arrested As Climate Protesters Rush Field During Congressional Baseball Game

David GilmourJun 13th, 2024, 6:16 am

Capitol Police said the eight activists will face federal charges for interference with officers.

Eight protesters from the group Climate Defiance were arrested on Wednesday night after storming the field at the annual Congressional Baseball Game.

The charity event was temporarily disrupted as the activists, donning shirts emblazoned with “end fossil fuels,” were detained by U.S. Capitol Police.

BREAKING: We have taken the field at the Congressional Baseball Game + play has FROZEN!

Congress sends billions of public $$ to subsidize deadly fossil fuels — but the police are tackling us instead.

This Chevron-sponsored game cannot continue. This is unconscionable. pic.twitter.com/ZAM3kmm9f7

— Climate Defiance (@ClimateDefiance) June 13, 2024

Capitol Police said that the protesters, who remain in custody, will face federal charges for interference with officers.

Climate Defiance took to X to protest the arrest of its members.

“It’s the Members of Congress who should be locked up,” the group wrote.

UPDATE: Eight of us have been arrested for shutting down the Congressional Baseball Game.

They are behind bars right now.

Make no mistake: It’s the Members of Congress who should be locked up. pic.twitter.com/tNoB4jh0xp

— Climate Defiance (@ClimateDefiance) June 13, 2024

In further statements online, the group criticized the event’s sponsorship by petroleum multinational Chevron.

The annual game pits Democrats against Republicans, and this year, it raised over $2 million for Washington charities. This year, Republicans defeated the Democrats 31 -11.