Protesters aim to disrupt 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner

The annual White House correspondents’ dinner took a somber turn this year as protests erupted outside the event, condemning President Joe Biden’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict and criticizing Western media coverage of the war. Despite the glitzy atmosphere of the gala, with journalists, celebrities, and politicians in attendance, the shadow of the ongoing conflict loomed large.

Protesters draped in traditional Palestinian keffiyeh cloth shouted “Shame on you!” at guests entering the Washington Hilton, where the dinner was held. Chants accused U.S. journalists of underreporting the war and misrepresenting the situation in Gaza. Demonstrators lay motionless on the pavement next to mock flak vests with “press” insignia, highlighting the dangers faced by journalists covering the conflict.

Criticism of the Biden administration’s support for Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has sparked protests on college campuses and calls for divestment from Israel. The event, typically a lighthearted roast of the president, was overshadowed by the serious issues at hand.

As President Biden delivered his speech inside, entertainer Colin Jost from “Saturday Night Live” was set to follow. However, the focus remained on the journalists detained and persecuted worldwide for doing their jobs, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, imprisoned in Russia since March 2023.

Law enforcement ensured the safety of attendees, with extra security measures in place. Protest organizers aimed to draw attention to the high number of journalists killed in the conflict, urging their colleagues in Washington to boycott the dinner. The event highlighted the complex intersection of politics, media, and global conflicts, underscoring the challenges faced by journalists in reporting the truth.