Climate Protesters Arrested for Vandalizing 17th Century Velázquez Painting
Two British climate protesters have been apprehended by the London police for defacing a priceless 17th century painting by renowned artist Diego Velázquez. The incident occurred at the National Gallery, where the painting, titled ‘Venus Looking at a Mirror,’ was being exhibited.
Members of ‘Just Stop Oil’ Held Accountable
The culprits, who belong to the environmental group ‘Just Stop Oil,’ have been identified as Hanan (22) and Harris (20). Reportedly, they boldly donned white t-shirts featuring their organization’s name while executing their act of vandalism. With the aid of an orange safety hammer, they shattered the protective glass encasing the iconic artwork.
This isn’t the first time ‘Venus Looking at a Mirror’ has been targeted. In 1914, women’s suffrage activist Mary Richardson defaced the painting as a protest against her colleague’s arrest. History seems to repeat itself as Hanan and Harris echo Richardson’s sentiments regarding women’s struggles for equality.
Voicing Climate Change Concerns
An official statement released by ‘Just Stop Oil’ conveyed a clear message: “Words are not enough; action is imperative. Women did not secure their right to vote by mere ballots. Likewise, the time has come to act decisively and halt our reliance on oil.”
The organization’s members expressed their disillusionment with politics, asserting that the British government failed women in the past and is now endangering millions of lives with its approval of new North Sea oil and gas development.
A Wave of Arrests on Climate Protests
In addition to apprehending Hanan and Harris, the police arrested around 40 other ‘Just Stop Oil’ protesters who were engaged in a slow march near Whitehall, in front of the government building. The authorities justified these arrests by citing Section 7 of the Public Order Act, which grants them the power to detain individuals interfering with crucial national infrastructure.
The British government emphasized that their intention is not to curb peaceful protests but rather to prevent a small fraction of individuals from severely disrupting public life.
As investigations progress, both the arrested protesters and art enthusiasts around the world await justice for the defacement of this cherished masterpiece.
Two demonstrators from the environmental group ‘Just Stop Oil’ vandalize the 17th century Velazquez painting ‘Venus Looking at a Mirror’ exhibited at the National Gallery in London, England, on the 6th (local time). On this day, protesters broke the protective glass of the work with a safety hammer. /AP Yonhap News
Two British climate protesters were arrested by police after vandalizing a 17th century Velázquez painting on display at the National Gallery in London.
According to the BBC on the 6th (local time), the London police announced that they were arresting two protesters belonging to the climate group ‘Just Stop Oil’. They are accused of damaging Diego Velázquez’s painting ‘Venus Looking at a Mirror’ in the National Gallery.
The organization identified only Hanan (22) and Harris (20).
On this day, Hanan and Harris wore white T-shirts with the group’s name written on them and used an orange safety hammer to break the protective glass over the ‘Mirror-Looking Venus’.
The BBC reported that women’s suffrage activist Mary Richardson vandalized this work in protest at the arrest of her colleague in 1914.
The organization said, “Women did not get the vote by voting,” and added, “Now is the time for action, not words, ‘Just Stop Oil.'”
He continued, “Politics is letting us down. “They failed women in 1914, and they’re failing us now,” she said. “New oil and gas will kill millions of people.” This is a comment aimed at the British government’s plan to approve new North Sea oil and gas development, which will be announced in a speech to the King’s Parliament on the 7th.
The group said, “If we love art, love life, and love family, we must stop using oil.”
Meanwhile, on this day, the police announced that they had also arrested around 40 Just Stop Oil protesters who marched slowly down the road in front of the government building (Whitehall). The BBC said, “Under section 7 of the Public Order Act introduced this year, even protesters who do not engage with police officers can be arrested,” adding, “The law states that they can be arrested if they disrupt the use or operation of key national infrastructure in England and Wales.” “It’s done,” he explained.
The British government said of this arrest, “The purpose is not to ban protests, but to prevent a small number of individuals from seriously disrupting the daily life of the public.”
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