Gunfire, criticism and a walkout that never happened

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner, an annual event honoring members of the press, was disrupted after a gunman opened fire during the gathering, causing a panic and forcing attendees to evacuate. While no one was injured, those who attended, including Minnesotans like Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, have faced criticism for their presence at an event where President Trump and members of his administration were also in attendance. Despite the dinner’s long-standing tradition, some say attendance continues to normalize an administration that has repeatedly attacked the free press.

California man Cole Allen was arrested shortly after the incident and has since been indicted by the Department of Justice for attempting to assassinate the president and a Secret Service agent before he was apprehended. This marks the third failed assassination attempt against the president.

“Cole Allen now faces the full weight of federal justice,” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement released by the Justice Department. “This alleged assassin was stopped because of the courage and professionalism of law enforcement officers who responded without hesitation by doing their jobs.”

The dinner has been a tradition since 1924, organized by the White House Correspondents’ Association to honor members of the press who cover the White House and government. While the president is historically not in attendance, Trump and members of his administration were present this year. A fact that drew sharp criticism of those who chose to attend.

“Friends, I’m struggling to understand why anyone would consider it an honor to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner under this administration,” civil rights activist and attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong said in a Facebook statement. “Given everything we’ve seen… attacks on the press and serious harm impacting communities across this country and around the world, there is nothing about this moment that calls for celebration.”

Since Trump’s inauguration, his relationship with the press has been strained at best, marked by attempts to silence critical coverage. Among the most striking examples are federal indictments issued against both former CNN journalist Don Lemon and Minnesota independent journalist Georgia Fort for their coverage of the Cities Church protest in St. Paul. Fort was at the dinner as well, but says her plan, along with many other journalists in attendance, was to walk out in solidarity over attacks on journalists’ First Amendment rights.

“I wanted to take a stand for the First Amendment and planned to walk out for press freedom. Instead, I walked out in fear of losing my life,” Fort posted on Facebook after the shooting.

In a follow-up post, she added, “This year’s event was already contentious, with ongoing attacks on the press and officials in the room who have contributed to that. There was supposed to be a stand for the First Amendment. Instead, that story is being ignored because of the alleged assassination attempt.”

Other Minnesotans who attended included Republican Rep. Tom Emmer and Mayor Frey. Minneapolis residents were quick to point out what they saw as hypocrisy in Frey’s attendance, given his public criticism of Trump and his policies during Metro Surge. His press secretary, Jennifer Lor, said the mayor was already in Washington for other business, not specifically for the dinner.

“He was in Washington, D.C., not specifically for this event, but to meet with lawmakers and partner organizations to advocate for federal funding and advance key priorities for Minneapolis,” Lor said. “Mayor Frey was invited by MSNOW and he went because he supports the free press and the work that they do for our country. The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been happening for over 100 years, focused not on ideology, but supporting a free press and recognizing journalism. Mayor Frey was proud to sit at the table with MSNOW and the chair of the Democratic National Convention.”

While the shooting effectively disrupted both the event and the planned walkout, many believe attendees should not have shown up at all. Protesters gathered outside the hotel during the event, calling out what they described as the hypocrisy of an administration that attacks the First Amendment celebrating the press it has targeted.

“Showing up anyway doesn’t feel neutral. It feels like normalization. And that’s deeply troubling,” Armstrong said. Responding to a comment about the journalists’ intended protest, she added, “I don’t buy it. The real protesters were outside of the room holding up signs and confronting attendees.”

In the aftermath, Trump has used the shooting to push for construction of a new White House ballroom, a response that has drawn its own criticism amid broader national calls for gun control.

“At a time when communities across the country are grappling with gun violence, Mayor Frey believes our focus should be on solutions that save lives, especially in schools and on our streets, rather than fancy new construction projects that benefit a small group of people,” Lor said.

Izzy Canizares is a freelance journalist and contributing journalist for the Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder.