A reporter for The Washington Examiner claimed on Twitter that he was barred from gaining credentials to cover a “Green New Deal” rally scheduled for Monday night.
The event, which was put on by the Sunrise Movement, an environmental activism group attempting to build “an army of young people to stop climate change and create millions of good jobs in the process,” featured independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, Democratic New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Ed Markey.
We’ve organized 1,500 people on a Monday night for a climate rally at @HowardU demanding a #GreenNewDeal.
Watch the stream: https://t.co/GLHLAhhHzj https://t.co/XHBquXes2c
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 13, 2019
“I am not comfortable drawing attention to myself, and away from my work, but as @sunrisemvmt begins their D.C. rally with @AOC and @SenSanders, I thought it was important to say that Sunrise would not grant me a credential to attend the event because I work for the @dcexaminer,” Joshua Siegel tweeted.
He continued, “At a time when climate advocates are trying to unite the country, picking and choosing coverage seems wrong, especially when I am known for my fair, non-ideological reporting.” (RELATED: Ocasio-Cortez Bungled Green New Deal’s Release. Her Staff Took Its Webpage Offline)
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) greets audiences following a televised town hall event on the “Green New Deal” in the Bronx borough of New York City, New York, U.S., March 29, 2019. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon.
Stephen O’Hanlon, a Sunrise Movement’s communications spokesperson, tweeted a response to Siegel, saying, “Replied to [J]osh, but dropping here too: we had to turn away several dozen outlets because of space, all across the political spectrum. Nothing personal against you. As you’ve mentioned, Varshini has taken time to chat with you in the past and we’d be happy to chat again.”
“And I will be damned if the same politicians who refused to act then are gonna try to come back today say we need a middle of the road approach to save our lives. That is too much for me” @AOC #GreenNewDeal #Road2GND pic.twitter.com/lFmZpRnJ9Q
— People for Bernie (@People4Bernie) May 14, 2019
Siegel pushed back, claiming that he requested his press credentials last Wednesday, before claiming that they specifically told him the Examiner wasn’t allowed at the event.
Zack Coleman of Politico defended Siegel’s argument, saying that he got approved to attend the event, despite applying for a press pass two days later.