Hundreds of former or retired journalists, along with eight press freedom groups, are urging the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) to take a stand against the Trump administration’s recent media attacks during the upcoming dinner this Friday. President Donald Trump announced his attendance at this rescheduled event after the original dinner in April was cut short due to a shooting incident targeting him at the Washington Hilton.

This rescheduled dinner, set at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel in the capital, promises enhanced security. The letter, circulated by former ABC News correspondent Lisa Stark and producer Ian Cameron, emphasizes that the administration’s antagonism towards the media has worsened.

The Justice Department’s subpoenas to New York Times journalists, covering the presidentially-used Qatari-donated Air Force One jet, illustrate these attacks. Additional subpoenas reached beyond the journalists to their families.

Signatories demand the association confront these issues head-on. They highlight threats from Trump to revoke broadcasters’ licenses that do not comply with his demands.

The letter, endorsed by the Society of Professional Journalists and other key groups, urges the WHCA to assertively defend press freedom in front of President Trump. The letter argues it’s contradictory to laud the First Amendment in the presence of someone who repeatedly criticizes it. Signatories call on the WHCA to openly denounce the administration’s actions and commit to preserving this essential democratic principle.

Key signatories include the Committee to Protect Journalists, the National Association of Black Journalists, and the Media and Democracy Project among others. Approximately 520 individual signatories, mostly retired journalists, have joined the call, many of whom also backed a similar letter in April.

Trump plans to attend Friday’s event, viewing it as a symbol of resilience. He stated on his Truth Social platform that the event reflects a refusal to let threats alter daily life or its agenda. While Trump’s decision to deliver his original speech remains uncertain, he anticipates the event to be highly coveted.