Gay Journalist Detained At Kennedy Center For Booing Trump During “Chicago” Opening Night
A gay journalist was detained by security at the Kennedy Center after booing Donald and Melania Trump during the opening night of Chicago, as first reported by the Washington Blade. The incident has raised fresh concerns about free speech at federally funded institutions under the current administration.
Eugene Ramirez, a Washington D.C. resident and former lead anchor for Sinclair’s national evening news broadcast, attended the 1 April performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts with a group of friends. Just before the curtain went up, the President and First Lady appeared in the balcony box. The audience stood, cheered, and waved. Ramirez booed and gave a thumbs-down while recording on his phone.
Security moved fast. Within moments, guards escorted him to a side area and held him there until the house lights dimmed and the overture began.
“They don’t want booing”
According to Ramirez, Kennedy Center Director of Safety and Security Karles C. Jackson Sr. told him plainly that “they don’t want booing,” and flagged his thumbs-down gesture specifically. Who “they” referred to was never clarified.
Ramirez said there was no disruption to justify the removal. Almost everyone in the audience was standing and reacting loudly to the Trumps’ arrival. The only difference was that his reaction was negative.
“It was very clearly about protection, whether protecting the president from visible dissent, or his image before the media present,” he told the Blade. The White House press pool was in the room, and Ramirez believes the appearance was designed as a managed media moment, not a casual night at the theatre.
The irony of Chicago
Of course, the musical itself made the whole thing almost too on the nose. Chicago, Broadway’s longest-running American musical, is a satire about manipulating the press and controlling public perception. Its infamous Razzle Dazzle number ends with a massive American flag descending as the cast sings about blinding audiences to the truth.
“Watching that scene after being detained for a thumbs-down was surreal,” Ramirez said.
He also noted the painful irony for the performers. Many of the cast members the Trumps presumably applauded are likely LGBTQIA+ community members, the same community this administration has rolled back protections for.
A right worth defending
Ramirez, who is of Cuban heritage, said his background as both a journalist and a member of a community that has fought for its rights makes this personal. “Being singled out by security at a federally funded institution for expressing dissent shouldn’t be brushed off; it undermines the First Amendment,” he said. “It’s a right I’m not willing to give up readily.”
“Democracy only works when citizens are allowed to boo,” he added. “Tuesday night at the Kennedy Center, Chicago made that point better than I ever could.”
The Kennedy Center did not respond to the Blade’s request for comment.
