'No Fossil Fuel Money!': Protests Outside Big-Money Fundraiser for Biden Co-Hosted by Natural Gas Executive

Dozens of environmentalists gathered outside the New York home of investment banker David Solomon on Thursday to protest former Vice President Joe Biden’s decision to attend a fundraiser there, despite calls for the 2020 candidate to cancel the event following news of the co-host’s deep ties to the fossil fuel industry.

“Biden can’t expect to convince Americans that he’s a leader on climate if he’s also cozying up to fossil fuel power players,” said Laura Shindell, an organizer with Food & Water Action who participated in Thursday’s demonstration.

Ahead of the $2,800-per-ticket fundraiser, protesters led chants of “No fossil fuel money!” and “Biden, Biden, you can’t hide, we can see your greedy side!”

The high-dollar fundraiser came just 24 hours after Biden participated in a CNN presidential forum on the climate crisis, during which an activist directly confronted the former vice president over the event with Andrew Goldman, co-founder of natural gas company Western LNG.

In response to criticism, the Biden campaign denied that Goldman fits the definition of a fossil fuel executive and said the former vice president is not violating the No Fossil Fuel money pledge, which is a vow “not to take contributions over $200 from oil, gas, and coal industry executives, lobbyists, and PACs.”