Hundreds of former or retired journalists and eight press freedom organizations have called on the White House Correspondents' Association to confront the recent attacks by President Donald Trump's administration on the media, during the association's dinner that was rescheduled this week—a dinner Trump said he would attend, according to the Associated Press.

The original dinner was scheduled for last April but was canceled after a gunman opened fire inside the Washington Hilton hotel, and prosecutors said he was attempting to assassinate Trump.

The new dinner, which will be smaller, will take place this Friday under tight security at the Waldorf Astoria in Washington, D.C., formerly known as the Trump International Hotel.

Based on a previous letter

The letter expands on a similar letter issued last April ahead of the first dinner date, noting that since then 'the administration’s attacks on journalists and press freedoms have become more blatant.'

The letter, organized by former ABC News correspondent Lisa Stark and producer Ian Cameron, specifically cites subpoenas recently issued by the Justice Department to journalists at The New York Times who reported on security concerns regarding Air Force One.

Additional subpoenas targeted the phone records of journalists, the mother of one reporter, and the spouses of two other journalists.

The letter also references Trump’s threats to revoke the licenses of broadcast outlets 'that refuse to comply with his demands.'

The letter states: 'Our message to the White House Correspondents’ Association is now more urgent: Take a firm stand in defense of press freedom before the president, publicly support the journalists he attacks, and pledge to resist the coordinated efforts of his administration to undermine the First Amendment.'