Eight individuals were taken into custody on Wednesday evening during the Congressional Baseball Game, an annual event aimed at raising funds for charitable causes.
According to the U.S. Capitol Police (U.S.C.P.), law enforcement swiftly intervened and apprehended eight individuals who attempted to stage a protest on the field. These protesters are facing charges of interference with a member of the U.S. Capitol Police, a federal offense.
The U.S.C.P. public information office informed NBC News that the protesters remain in police custody, undergoing processing procedures before being transported to jail. Fortunately, no injuries were reported during the arrests.
The activist group Climate Defiance claimed responsibility for the protest, sharing images on social media platforms of demonstrators wearing “end fossil fuels” shirts infiltrating the field and subsequently being subdued or detained by law enforcement officers.
In a statement released by the Climate Defiance group, they declared, “Eight of us have been arrested for shutting down the Congressional Baseball Game. They are behind bars right now.” They also emphasized their belief that members of Congress should be held accountable.
Organizer Evan Drukker-Schardl emphasized the alignment of Congress and the fossil fuel industry, particularly pointing to Chevron’s sponsorship of the game among more than 100 other sponsors, including Comcast NBCUniversal.
The U.S. Capitol Police had reportedly anticipated the possibility of protests prior to the game, incorporating measures into their comprehensive action plan to ensure a swift response.
Meanwhile, a separate group of protesters who displayed a Palestinian flag in the stands voluntarily left after breaching ballpark regulations, avoiding arrest.
The Congressional Sports for Charity expressed appreciation for the efforts of law enforcement in ensuring the safety of the event. They highlighted the success of the game in raising over $2 million for D.C. charities, despite the disruptions caused by the protests.
It’s worth noting that climate protesters had previously faced arrests outside the Congressional Baseball Game in 2022.
