The incident happened at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs held at Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center in Washington DC on May 18, 2012. The symposium was held in collaboration with the World Economic Forum, to announce a new G8 initiative to advance agricultural development and food and nutrition security in Africa. The symposium addressing the topic ‘Advancing Food and Nutrition Security at the 2012 G8 Summit’ was moderated by USAID Administrator Rajiv Shah.

The heckler had positioned himself at the front of the stage, directly in front of the panel and began shouting in the middle of Mr. Meles’s talk and began speaking: "Meles Zenawi is a dictator! Meles Zenawi is a dictator! Free Eskinder Nega! Free political prisoners!...crime against humanity,“ Mr Melse tried to continue his talk saying “70% of the population…” at this point the moderator can be heard saying “excuse me…” at which point the heckler continues with "Meles Zenawi is a dictator…” again Dr Shah can be heard saying “can we have security please…okay thank you we heard from you enough…” 

The symposium featured significant new business commitments for African agriculture and discussions on addressing hunger and poverty in the changing development landscape. Other African heads of state, including Ghanaian President John Evans Atta Mills and Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete were participating in the symposium.

Finally, it looks like security escorted the heckler out of the building. And Mr Meles Zenawi carried on discussing the role of public investment in African agriculture.