President Donald Trump is expected to attend The White House Correspondents' Dinner this weekend for the first time as commander in chief, prompting backlash from more than 200 journalists, journalism organizations and press freedom groups.
In an open letter, the coalition urged the event's organizer, the White House Correspondents’ Association, to use the dinner to defend press freedom amid ongoing threats to the First Amendment, many of which have been spearheaded by the administration. While some attendees have pledged to wear pins on their gowns and lapels in subtle protest, the group of journalists is urging the association to go a step further and directly condemn the president for dozens of actions they say are intended to undermine the nation's press freedoms.
"We, the undersigned, call upon the White House Correspondents' Association to use the occasion of the White House Correspondents' Dinner to forcefully demonstrate opposition to President Trump’s efforts to trample freedom of the press," the April 20 letter said.
"Speak forcefully," the letter adds, "in front of the man who seeks to undermine our country’s long tradition of an independent, strong, and free press."
Signatories include some of the nation's largest journalism and press freedom organizations, including the Society of Professional Journalists, the Freedom of the Press Foundation, the National Association of Black Journalists and the Coalition for Women in Journalism. Several prominent journalists also signed the letter, among them former "Today" show co-host Ann Curry and longtime CBS News anchor Dan Rather.
