The Climate Defiance group, founded by activists Michael Greenberg and Rylee Haught, caused chaos at a Washington, D.C. gala featuring Sen. Lisa Murkowski, disrupting the event and physically being removed from the stage. The activists chanted anti-fossil fuel slogans and called Murkowski a “murderer” and an “ecocidal pyromaniac” due to her support for the Willow Project, a large oil drilling project in Alaska. The group has a history of disrupting events with high-profile officials in order to demand aggressive climate action.
Despite facing criticism for their disruptive methods, Climate Defiance was invited to the White House for a private meeting with President Biden’s senior clean energy czar John Podesta in December of 2023. During the meeting, the group shared their concerns about the urgent need to end federal support for new fossil fuel infrastructure to prevent planetary and societal collapse due to continued burning of fossil fuels. They commended Podesta’s commitment to climate action and urged him to take swift action to address the climate crisis.
In addition to their meeting with Podesta, Climate Defiance has disrupted events with various lawmakers and public officials, including senior White House officials, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. The group has garnered attention for their disruptive tactics and demand for aggressive climate action, utilizing protests and disruptions to draw attention to their cause.
The incident at the gala honoring Sen. Murkowski was captured on video and quickly went viral, drawing attention to the group’s message and tactics. The activists were forcibly removed from the stage as they chanted slogans against fossil fuels, while Murkowski slowly walked away from the confrontation. Climate Defiance’s actions have sparked debate over the effectiveness of disruptive protests in raising awareness and advocating for environmental causes.
Climate Defiance’s meeting with Podesta at the White House highlights the group’s efforts to engage with policymakers and advocate for urgent action on climate change. Their letter to Podesta emphasized the severity of the climate crisis and the need for immediate action to prevent further environmental damage. The group’s tactics, while controversial, have succeeded in drawing attention to their cause and demanding accountability from public officials in addressing the climate emergency.
Both the White House and Sen. Murkowski did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident and the group’s meeting with Podesta. The actions of Climate Defiance, as well as their disruptive protests and meeting with top officials, reflect a growing movement of activism and advocacy for climate action, highlighting the urgency of addressing the climate crisis and the need for immediate and decisive action to combat climate change.
