On the Fourth of July, climate activists marched onto the inner loop of Interstate 495 just outside Washington, D.C., for a protest. Just after noon, local police received a report that a group of people were sitting on the Beltway blocking all lanes.
#SilverSpring Inner Loop at RT-29/Colesville Rd, demonstration. Traffic stopped #mdtraffic #dctraffic pic.twitter.com/clnUV3zmYo
— Jerry Booth (@TrafficBooth) July 4, 2022
Maryland State Police arrested 14 people involved in the protest, according to the local Fox affiliate. They were charged with disturbing the peace and failure to obey a lawful order. The protest turned violent, and four were charged with resisting arrest while one counter-protester was charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest.
The group behind the protest, Declare Emergency, released a statement: “A group of ordinary concerned citizens has blocked the inner loop of the Capital Beltway in an act of civil resistance. Their demand is for President Biden to immediately declare a national state of climate emergency. Today there were almost two dozen Declare Emergency campaign supporters on the road, coming from as far away as Oregon, Washington and Florida to make their voices heard here in DC/MD/VA area.”
Meanwhile, pro-abortion protesters blocked a July 4th parade at the Michigan state capitol. “The 4th of July parade in Downtown Lansing ended shortly after it started when pro-choice protesters blocked the parade from continuing,” the local NBC affiliate reported. “The parade started at the left of the State Capitol building but was stopped by protesters as soon as they turned to the front of the building.”
Lansing Mayor Andy Schor told the station “he supported the protest but was disappointed that the parade ended.”
🚨 HAPPENING NOW 🚨
Thousands attend reproductive rights rally in Lansing, MI. Marchers take over what was supposed to be 4th of July parade. // @FOX17 pic.twitter.com/5IuoNDOOdn
— Lauren Edwards (@LaurenEdwardsTV) July 4, 2022
And some activists protesting against big oil took their lives into their own hands when they stormed onto the track of a Formula One race, on which speeds top 200 mph.
The protesters invaded the track at the British race shortly after a huge crash drew a red flag. “The protesters were dragged away by marshals as drivers sped by, with Northamptonshire Police later confirming seven arrests had been made before the race resumed after over a 50-minute delay,” Sky Sports reported.
“Totally irresponsible,” Formula One CEO Stefano Domenicali told Sky Sports. “People can protest something by voice, but running the risk on a track, jeopardising and having the really serious stuff for the drivers and themselves is totally stupid. This is not acceptable, you can protest whatever you want, there is freedom to speak, but this is really ridiculous.”
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/Cwg830917m
— WTF1 (@wtf1official) July 3, 2022
Joseph Curl has covered politics for 35 years, including 12 years as White House correspondent for a national newspaper. He was also the a.m. editor of the Drudge Report for four years. Send tips to [email protected] and follow him on Twitter @josephcurl.