A group of protesters, including a self-described comedian-activist, targeted the Metropolitan Opera last week to voice their opposition to perceived fascism. The demonstration escalated when two activists rushed the stage at Lincoln Center’s prominent Opera House around 9 p.m. on Friday, drawing attention to billionaire David H. Koch, a known supporter of the arts in Manhattan.
Davidson Boswell, 34, from Harlem, faced trespassing charges after the incident, during which he and his fellow activists waved banners and shouted at Koch, who passed away in 2019. They were eventually removed from the stage as the curtain fell, causing a pause in the performance for about 20 minutes.
Koch, honored by having the theater named after him, was linked to various conservative initiatives, including the Heritage Foundation and Project 2025, which aims to influence American societal structure and policies.
During the uproar, Boswell questioned the crowd, “Is the David Koch Theater across the street?” asserting that both institutions share similar funding routes.
A video of the protest, titled “A Night in Jail and Normalization of Fascism in the Art World,” appeared on Boswell’s Patreon page on Sunday. The protests were organized by a new group known as My Pace, alongside activists from Climate Defiance.
In a statement, Boswell criticized Lincoln Center for not being able to denounce agencies like ICE while benefiting from Koch’s financial support. The protests forced the cancellation of a revival of “Carmen,” which was set against the backdrop of the U.S.-Mexico border.
Two of the activists on stage were dressed in a military uniform and stagehand attire, holding signs that expressed their discontent with the Koch family’s influence and funding of programs like Project 2025.
Boswell articulated that the production of “Carmen,” illustrating ICE agents in action, was meant to critique their actions, yet he labeled the scene itself as “hypocritical” given the support from Koch’s family. The Metropolitan Opera has yet to comment on the incident.
