Eight anti-fossil-fuel activists were arrested last week at the annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park on Wednesday evening. The activists, from the direct-action group Climate Defiance, disrupted the event to protest U.S. reliance on fossil fuels and demand an end to subsidies for the industry.
The activists stormed the field during the game, wearing t-shirts that read “end fossil fuels,” and were immediately tackled by U.S. Capitol Police and stadium security.
They were held overnight and face federal charges for interference with the U.S. Capitol Police. The arrests followed months of Climate Defiance’s public promises to “shut down” the event to draw attention to the climate crisis.
“Congress sends billions of public $$ to subsidize deadly fossil fuels — but the police are tackling us instead,” Climate Defiance stated on social media.
Under clear skies and a light breeze, the activists jumped over a rail from the stands onto the field. They were quickly restrained by police, some held face-down in the dirt before being taken into custody. Approximately eight more activists stayed in the stands, chanting in support.
Climate Defiance has long targeted high-profile political events to highlight climate issues. The group’s actions at the baseball game were intended to draw attention to the climate crisis and call on Congress to stop fossil fuel subsidies, which include longstanding tax breaks for oil and gas companies.
“Congress is out there playing games… and actively pouring fuel on the fire of climate disaster by funding or subsidizing the fossil fuel industry tens of billions of dollars a year,” said Evan Drukker-Schardl, a Climate Defiance member and lead organizer for the action.
The U.S. Capitol Police defended their response, praising the officers for their quick actions to maintain safety during the game. “We are proud of our officers who are working to keep everyone safe during tonight’s Congressional Baseball Game for Charity,” the police department stated on social media.
After their release, the protesters vowed to continue their fight against fossil fuels. “We were brutalized tonight—beaten and bruised as we took over the Congressional Baseball game,” Climate Defiance wrote in a video caption. “Our bodies are bloodied but our spirits are unmoved. We will build a better world.”
The Congressional Baseball Game, a bipartisan charity event dating back to 1909, pits Democratic and Republican members of Congress against each other to raise funds for local charities. This year’s event sold over 30,000 tickets and raised more than $2.2 million for organizations in Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia.
Climate Defiance’s disruption was not the only protest at the event. Earlier, six people protested during the national anthem, chanting “free Palestine” and holding a banner that read, “Stop Arming Israel.” Both protests highlight the use of the game as a platform for political speech.
Among those arrested was 23-year-old Lucia Pieto, participating in her first action with Climate Defiance. Pieto became interested in climate action after learning about potential links between her father’s Parkinson’s disease and industrial pollution. She described feeling both support and hostility from the stands during the protest.
Some attendees criticized the protest, while others saw it as a necessary disruption to draw attention to serious issues. Mo Sullivan, who works for an animal-rights organization, described the protest as an effective tactic. “It was a good opportunity, a good way to expose the issue to a large audience,” Sullivan said.
The Congressional Baseball Game’s many sponsors include companies like Chevron, which has been a target of Climate Defiance for its fossil fuel activities. The group remains committed to raising awareness and pushing for legislative change through direct action and social media campaigns.