The annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner was met with protests and boycott calls over the ongoing conflict in Gaza. Demonstrators gathered outside the Washington Hilton hotel to express their outrage, chanting slogans such as “shame on you” and waving signs condemning the Israeli military offensive. Protesters also unfurled a giant Palestinian flag from the hotel’s top floor.
Inside the banquet hall, President Joe Biden faced criticism for his administration’s support of Israel. He has been greeted by chants of “Genocide Joe” and calls for an immediate ceasefire. Over two dozen Palestinian journalists have written an open letter urging their American colleagues to boycott the dinner, highlighting the detention, torture, and killings of their peers in Gaza.
The anti-war group Code Pink threatened to “shut down” the dinner to protest Israel’s targeting and killing of Palestinian journalists. They pledged to use non-violent tactics but did not provide further details. Despite the protests, the Washington Metropolitan Police Department stated that they would facilitate safe and peaceful demonstrations while ensuring access to the event for attendees.
Comedian Colin Jost, a longtime writer and actor on NBC’s “Saturday Night Live,” delivered the traditional roast, poking fun at Biden, former President Donald Trump, and the media. Biden was seated next to Jost on the dais, along with his wife, actress Scarlett Johansson. In his speech, Biden addressed the controversy surrounding the dinner, acknowledging the protests and expressing his support for freedom of speech.
The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is an annual event that honors top reporters and awards journalism scholarships. Despite the ongoing protests and boycotts, it continued as scheduled with the attendance of celebrities, journalists, and government officials.
