Climate protesters rushed the stage as Transportation Secretary Secretary Pete Buttigieg gave a speech at Michigan State University (MSU) in East Lansing on Wednesday night.
Authorities had to forcibly remove the demonstrators as Buttigieg spoke about infrastructure investments at Michigan State’s Public Service Forum at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center, which is located on the MSU campus. The forum intends to “provide generations of students, faculty and the MSU community with the opportunity to see, hear, and learn from national and international leaders, diplomats and writers,” according to its website.
One video showed climate protesters chanting “Stop Petro Pete” as they disrupted the forum. A group of police officers removed at least four of the protesters, who were holding a large, unfolded banner.
Protestors escorted off MSU’s campus during a visit from U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Wednesday night. pic.twitter.com/8yV0R5dukf
— Katie Heid (@katie_heid) November 30, 2023
Another video showed one of the forum hosts instructing the protesters to not “disrupt the event” and noting that they had previously been asked to protest quietly.
Climate protesters are escorted out of the room after interrupting and chanting “Petrol Pete” during @SecretaryPete visit to @michiganstateu. @WLNS pic.twitter.com/ru2FX9PT80
— Josh Sanchez WLNS (@JoshSanTV) November 30, 2023
An MSU Public Safety spokesperson said the police arrested one man at the event and charged him with disorderly assemblages and conduct for violating an MSU ordinance, according to The Hill. He could face up to 90 days in jail and a fine of up to $100. (RELATED: ‘Stop Petro Pete!’: Buttigieg Chased Off Stage By Chanting Climate Protesters)
A protester reportedly said that the group was part of the Climate Defiance organization, which has a history of confronting Buttigieg, according to The Hill.
“We will shut down U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg,” the group posted to Twitter on Wednesday. “We will make him flee. We will make him scamper. We will make him QUAKE. We will do not what is kind but what is necessary. We will do so in Lansing. We will do so tonight. Buckle up. The Secretary of Transportation – now known as Petro Pete – is actively considering new oil export terminals that would be worse for the climate than Keystone. We confronted him last month and we will confront him again tonight. Everything we love is on the line.”
The Secretary of Transportation – now known as Petro Pete – is actively considering new oil export terminals that would be worse for the climate than Keystone.
We confronted him last month and we will confront him again tonight.
Everything we love is on the line. pic.twitter.com/H7XUfgnbsG
— Climate Defiance (@ClimateDefiance) November 29, 2023
In October, a crowd associated with Climate Defiance disrupted an event hosted by Buttigieg and said they chased him off the stage with the same “Petro Pete” chant over his support for the Sea Port and GulfLink oil terminals.