A federal judge on Friday denied a request by two Virginia residents to block this weekend’s UFC event on the White House South Lawn.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said the two individuals had no standing because they provided no evidence of how the event would harm them.

The Hill shared further:

It removes a potential last-minute roadblock to this weekend’s event, set to be held in a 92-foot-tall, temporary octagon erected on the White House lawn, with a press conference and other activities happening at the nearby Lincoln Memorial.

“The court rightly rejected an untimely and frivolous effort to halt the historic UFC event hosted to honor the 250th anniversary of our Nation,” White House spokesman Davis Ingle said in a statement. “The White House is thankful for this correct decision and looks forward to hosting this once-in-a-lifetime celebration on the South Lawn.”

A political activist and retired Air Force sergeant, represented by the Public Integrity Project, sued the National Park Service (NPS) and Department of the Interior last weekend seeking to block it. They argued the event was “deeply corrupt” and didn’t follow necessary environmental and NPS permitting requirements.

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Mehta’s opinion doesn’t address those arguments. Instead, he rejected their effort by ruling their regular visits to the National Mall isn’t enough for them to file suit. The activist said she frequently protests near the Lincoln Memorial, and the sergeant said he’s a ride-share driver who may end up near the event this weekend.

“Plaintiffs fall short of showing they are ‘directly affected’ by Defendants’ actions,” Mehta wrote in his ruling.

“Because Plaintiffs fail to establish both a substantial likelihood of standing and irreparable harm, and because the equities and public interest weigh against emergency relief, Plaintiffs’ Emergency Application for a Temporary Restraining Order or, in the Alternative, an Expedited Preliminary Injunction, ECF No. 3, is denied,” he added.

ABC News noted:

Lawyers with the Department of Justice said the authorization for the event was lawful, comparing it to other events on the South Lawn like Easter Egg Roll, National Christmas Tree Lighting, state dinners, the Congressional Picnic, and a 2022 Elton John Concert.

They also argued that the plaintiffs lack standing and would not be harmed by the event.

“No one is holding Plaintiffs in a jiu jitsu lock, forcing them to watch UFC Freedom 250 against their will,” DOJ lawyers wrote on Tuesday. “The public interest does not favor allowing them to exercise a heckler’s veto, particularly at this late date.”

Read the 15-page ruling HERE.

 

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