Members of Congress during the annual Congressional Baseball Game at Nationals Park in Washington, U.S., July 28, 2022. REUTERS/Michael A. McCoy
WASHINGTON, July 28 (Reuters) – In a rare moment of bipartisanship in a normally bitterly divided Washington, Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Congress competed in an annual baseball game on Thursday despite a protest from climate activists and a rain delay .
The Republicans dominated the Democrats, winning 10-0 in a seven-inning game.
Protesters seeking more decisive action to stop climate change tried to disrupt the event.
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As people streamed into Nationals Park, activists sat outside the stadium and chanted for President Joe Biden and Democrats to declare a climate emergency. This may interest you : Executive Constantine, Mayor Harrell appoints an experienced leader as Director of Public Health.
Now Or Never, a collective of climate activists, said 150 people took part in the demonstration.
Another group of climate activists unfurled a banner from an upstairs balcony that said: “They’re playing ball while the world burns.” Police confiscated the banner, the group said.
Before the game, US Capitol Police said they had a robust security plan in place to protect lawmakers, though they declined to provide details. Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department is tasked with handling protesters.
Three arrests were made for illegal entry, police said.
Democratic Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and conservative Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announced Wednesday that they have reached a deal on an energy, tax and health care bill intended to boost investment in fuel technologies, including renewable energy.
Some climate groups supported the legislation, although the activists at the stake were not among them, chanting that the “Manchin deal is not enough.”
Although the activists proved not to create much of a disturbance, the game did not go entirely smoothly. In the fourth inning, a heavy downpour caused a delay of about 40 minutes.
The congressional baseball game began in 1909 and has been played annually in recent years. It helps support several Washington-area charities.
In 2017, a gunman wounded Republican Whip Steve Scalise during a practice game for the event.
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Report by Makini Brice; Edited by Robert Birsel Read also : Martha dies and Hot Wheels Unleashed wins Italian Sports awards.
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