Climate activists disrupt Chevron DEI presentation to accuse CEO of mass murder over fossil fuels

The incident occurred at the 2024 Catalyst Awards, which took place at the New York Hilton in Midtown, Manhattan. Tickets to the event sold for at least $2,000 each. The awards were centered around gender equity in the workplace.

Mike Wirth, CEO and chairman of Chevron Gas, was one of three featured speakers at the event. While on stage, Wirth was confronted and threatened by leftist activists with the radical climate justice group, Climate Defiance. The group accused him of committing mass murder of indigenous women and releasing harmful "cancer-causing" chemicals into the air from fossil fuels, video shows.

"Chevron is responsible for killing thousands of indigenous women and exposing thousands more to cancer and reproductive illness," an agitator said to Wirth as the group made its way on stage to disrupt.

"You are not an ally of women. You are a murderer!" the protester continued.

The group surrounded Wirth with large banners as they made their way on stage, which read "Mike Lies People Die" and "Chevron poisons indigenous women."

"Women and children are suffering at your hands and you're here accepting a DEI award. Mike Wirth, we have a question: How do you sleep at night knowing you're a mass murderer?" asked a protester.

As tension increased, the group accused Wirth of working alongside the Israeli government to help commit genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza during Israel's war with Hamas.

"Chevron is also increasing offshore gas drilling with Israel in the midst of a genocide against the Palestinian people," another protester interjected.

The group then accused Chevron of owing "billions of dollars in damages for poisoning the Ecuadorian rainforest."

"In what world did you think it would be a good idea to invite this man here?" an agitator shouted angrily at the event chairman.

With a flustered look on his face, Wirth decided to exit the stage with security following behind him.

"Mike lies, women die! Mike lies, women die!" the group chanted repeatedly as they followed him off stage.

The group attempted to continue to harass Wirth behind the stage but was prevented by security guards.

"F-ck you, Mike. You're a piece of sh-t. You're killing people," an agitator said before they were manhandled by security, video shows.

The Catalyst Awards and Conference is described on its website as a "premier gender equity conference and awards event for advocates of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI)."

The conference's theme was the "Catalyst Effect" which was centered around celebrating "the collective impact of individuals committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion—who together can create massive change."

In addition to Wirth, the two other featured speakers at the event were Mellody Hobson, co-CEO and President of Ariel Investments, and Caroline Wanga, President and CEO of Essence Ventures.

Additional speakers were from companies that include Target, Sephora, Dow, Nationwide, Google, Bloomberg, Marriot, Chobani, Morgan Stanley, and others.

Notable names who also spoke at the conference included Hillary Clinton and Harvard University Economics professor Claudia Goldin.