William Lawrence, a former Democratic Socialist, held up the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge as an example of ‘economic protest against fossil power’
A Democratic House candidate and Hasan Piker fanboy running for a competitive seat in Michigan called the fatal collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge a “climate activist’s dream,” citing the catastrophe’s impact on coal exports from one of the nation’s busiest ports. Six construction workers were killed in the March 2024 disaster.
William Lawrence, a former Democratic Socialist and cofounder of the activist environmental group the Sunrise Movement, made the comments during an August 2024 episode of his podcast, Hegemonicon, hosted by Convergence, a “magazine for radical insights.”
In an episode titled “Flows and Chokepoints,” Lawrence discussed what it would look like “to really shut down” a fossil fuel port for an extended period of time as an “economic protest against fossil power.”
The Francis Scott Key Bridge, which collapsed after being struck by the 984-foot container ship Dali, offered an example, according to Lawrence.
“I mean, this would be a climate activist’s dream, right? To be able to block 2.5 million tons of coal exports for weeks and weeks and weeks on end,” Lawrence said, chuckling.
The collapse, however, was far more than an interruption to fossil fuel exports. Six construction workers, all immigrants from Central America and Mexico, plunged to their deaths while filling potholes on the bridge. The disaster also paralyzed the Port of Baltimore for weeks, idling thousands of dockworkers, longshoremen, and truckers. A replacement bridge is expected to cost $5 billion and will not be complete until late 2030.
Lawrence’s comments could become an issue in his campaign for Michigan’s Seventh Congressional District, currently held by Republican Tom Barrett. The race is considered a toss-up, but Republicans are likely to highlight Lawrence’s ties to the Sunrise Movement and the Democratic Socialists of America as evidence that he is too radical for the district, which has voted for Trump in two out of the past three elections. The Sunrise Movement, which Lawrence cofounded in 2017, calls for an end to new drilling for fossil fuels and a complete transition away from them by 2030. The activist group has ventured beyond its initial mission in recent years, embracing the movements to defund police and abolish ICE. In 2021, the group faced allegations of antisemitism after it pulled out of a rally for Washington, D.C., statehood because of the involvement of three Jewish groups.
Lawrence has also faced criticism, or outright mockery, for fawning over Hasan Piker, a left-wing influencer who has said that America deserved 9/11, at a campaign event earlier this year. “You’re the man,” Lawrence told Piker backstage at the event. “I’d love to get on the stream sometime.”
Lawrence also founded the Lansing chapter of the DSA in his living room and remained a member of the organization until last month.
On his podcast, Lawrence appeared to lament that the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse did not have a greater impact on fossil fuel shipments. He noted that the resulting slowdown in coal exports “had little impact on global prices.”
Lawrence also appeared to express support for the Houthi attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, describing the Iran-backed terrorist group’s actions as a “blockade” against what he called Israel’s “genocide in Gaza.” The Houthis have attacked nearly 200 commercial ships in the region, killed at least 7 commercial sailors, and choked off global trade in the region.
Lawrence’s guest, Johns Hopkins University climate policy expert Tim Sahay, also appeared sympathetic to the Houthis.
“They’re trying to prevent a genocide,” Sahay said. “[The Houthis] said, look, we have this choke point near us that would reduce Israel’s and Egypt’s revenue if we stop the Suez Canal. So let’s use that and let’s use that by, I don’t know, hijacking a bunch of ships that are carrying everything from, you know, diapers to food and fertilizers to all corners of the world, right?”
Lawrence’s campaign did not respond to a request for comment.
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