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5 months ago
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At least eight climate change protestors have been arrested by police in Washington DC after storming the field during the annual Congressional Baseball Game.
The yearly event - which began back in 1909 - sees Republicans and Democrats put aside their differences for charity, but they couldn't escape political scrutiny on Wednesday night as multiple protestors made their voices heard.
After pro-Palestine flags were unfurled in the crowd, climate change protestors were then seen jumping the barriers and storming the field at Nationals Park, the home of Major League Baseball's Washington Nationals.
The game was stopped amid chaotic scenes, which saw some protestors pounced on as soon as they landed on the field, while others escaped capture for a few seconds before being tackled to the ground.
As cops arrested the protestors on the field, clips posted online showed other spectators chanting 'USA! USA!'
Police officers try to detain protestors who had stormed the field during the charity game
The group - from Climate Defiance - wore shirts that read 'End Fossil Fuels' as they were cuffed
In the stands, pro-Palestine protestors also unfurled flags and chanted, while others booed
On X, a group called 'Climate Defiance' took credit for the protests and wrote: 'Update: Eight of us have been arrested for shutting down the Congressional Baseball Game. They are behind bars now.
'Make no mistake: It's the Members of Congress who should be locked up.'
The protestors who stormed the field and wreaked havoc with the charity game wore shirts that read 'End Fossil Fuels', while others held up signs saying 'Stop playing games with our future.'
In another clip, police officers were seen ripping Palestine flags out of protestors' hands while other supporters booed the unruly scenes. Others raised signs that read 'Free Palestine'.
In the tunnel at Nationals Park before the game, a police officer stands with his gun
Three police officers and a security guard try to hold down a climate change protestor
The game at Nationals Park was marred by multiple protests in the early stages
At least eight protestors were arrested, as the group boasted of their presence on social media
It is not the first time the Congressional Baseball Game has sparked worrying scenes, after a practice session in 2017 saw a mass shooting occur.
On June 14, 66-year-old James Hodgkinson shot six people, including U.S. House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, U.S. Capitol Police officer Crystal Griner, congressional aide Zack Barth, and lobbyist Matt Mik, before being shot and killed himself.
The 'act of terrorism' was ended after a 10-minute shootout between Hodgkinson - a left-wing activist - and cops, with the perpetrator killed.
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