Two men have been charged after they decided to stage a climate protest during a U.S. Open semifinal tennis match on Thursday.
Sayak Mukhopadhyay, 50, was charged with criminal trespass and disorderly conduct, while Gregory Schwedock, 35, was charged with criminal trespass, according to NBC News.
The fracas began while American Coco Gauff and Karolina Muchova of Czechia battled it out in the second set under the Arthur Ashe Stadium lights in Queens, New York.
Mukhopadhyay, Schwedock and another protester, Lindiwe Priscilla Krasin, stood up in the stands and chanted, “End fossil fuels!” The activists sported shirts with the same message.
Mukhopadhyay had glued his bare feet to the floor.
Coco Gauff’s US Open semi-final against Karolina Muchova halted by climate change protestors in the stands. #usopen pic.twitter.com/qded3qEYBN
— Matt Majendie (@mattmajendie) September 8, 2023
The crowd booed the protesters and ultimately cheered as they were removed from the stadium by police. The protest caused a nearly 50-minute delay.
Final protestor has been escorted out of the stadium. Players likely to return to court shortly. It’s been a 35-minute delay. pic.twitter.com/1HMU2CyjG8
— Matt Majendie (@mattmajendie) September 8, 2023
Mukhopadhyay and Krasin spoke with NBC about why