The U.S. Open women’s semifinal between Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova was delayed more than 40 minutes on Thursday as environmental protesters disrupted the match, one of them Protesters glue their bare feet to the concrete floor of Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City.
All three demonstrators wore shirts that read “End Fossil Fuels” and began chanting the phrase repeatedly to interrupt the second set. At that time, Gauff led 6-4, 1-0.
captured video Matt Mackindysports reporter evening standard, showing a U.S. Open official stepping forward to confront protesters sitting on the upper level of the stadium. Eventually, the rest of the crowd began booing the demonstration loudly.
Two of the protesters were quickly escorted out of the stadium by security personnel. But demonstrators with their feet glued to the ground took longer to move away.A photo shared by TV writers to X (formerly known as Twitter) Jack CapchakIn the picture, the presenter is seated in a bleacher with his feet flat on the floor and looking forward.
other photo Photos Majendie shared with X show the same demonstrator with his hands cuffed behind his back while about a dozen New York Police Department (NYPD) officers try to remove his taped feet. Eventually, the demonstrators were dispersed about 35 minutes after the chanting began.
A protester who identified himself as Ian told The Associated Press that the group wants to hold the U.S. Open “accountable” because the U.S. Open is sponsored by big corporations that contribute to global warming.
“We don’t want to hurt the athletes in any way,” he added. “We’re not against the sport, but we do want to draw attention to the fact that there will no longer be tennis in the world for anyone to enjoy.”
NYPD told Weekly newspaper Two male protesters were detained on Thursday night, with charges “pending” related to the incident.
Goff beat Muchova 7-5 in the second set.
Corey Spkin/AFP Photo Credit: Getty
Climate activists have made headlines several times in recent months for disrupting major global sporting events, including the Mubadala-Citi Open in Washington, D.C., and a tennis tournament in August, when about a dozen people chanted Placards protesting the use of fossil fuels were asked to leave the event after chants and a show of hands.
In July, three demonstrators were arrested after disrupting two matches during Wimbledon, the world’s oldest tennis tournament. At the prestigious grand slam event in London, England, the pair wore shirts from “Stop Oil” — a U.K.-based coalition pushing the U.K. government to stop new oil, gas and coal projects — jumping out, according to the Associated Press. The stands, which scattered orange confetti and puzzle pieces onto the grass, impeded a match between Grigor Dimitrov and Sho Shimabukuro.
Another man has been arrested for disrupting Wimbledon at the same court. He was also a former member of “Just Stop Oil,” according to the Associated Press.
In June, two “stop oil” protesters were ejected from a sporting event after attempting to sprinkle orange powder on the pitch during an Ashes cricket match in London. Players from England and Australia interrupted the protest, including England goalkeeper Johnny Bairstow, who subdued a protester.
