[ad_1]
Just Stop Oil protesters have thrown tinned soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s famous 1888 painting Sunflowers at the National Gallery in London. Two activists threw two tins of Heinz tomato soup before security was called in and visitors escorted out of the room. The pair also glued themselves to a wall of the gallery.
The group said two women strolled into a room of the National Gallery at 11am today (October 14) and threw the contents of two tins of soup over the priceless painting.
London’s Metropolitan Police said in a statement: “The Just Stop Oil protesters entered the National Gallery just after 11ams… and threw a substance over Van Gogh’s ‘Sunflowers’ painting before gluing themselves to a wall opposite it. They have been arrested by Met police officers for criminal damage and aggravated trespass.
“Specialist officers have now un-glued them and they have been taken into custody to a central London police station. There is some minor damage to the frame, but the painting is unharmed.”
The action comes after two weeks of chaos in the capital caused by supporters of Just Stop Oil.
Activist Phoebe Plummer, 21, from London said: “Is art worth more than life? More than food? More than justice? The cost of living crisis is driven by fossil fuels—everyday life has become unaffordable for millions of cold hungry families—they can’t even afford to heat a tin of soup.
“Meanwhile, crops are failing and people are dying in supercharged monsoons, massive wildfires and endless droughts caused by climate breakdown. We can’t afford new oil and gas, it’s going to take everything. We will look back and mourn all we have lost unless we act immediately.”
In a statement released on Wednesday evening, Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Mark Rowley said: “I am determined to keep London moving in the face of ongoing disruptive demonstrations.
“Every day more than 200 officers are policing these protests and over the last 11 days we have made 338 arrests.
“I am frustrated so many officers are being taken away from tackling issues that matter most to communities.”
Just Stop Oil said the public was increasingly showing gratitude to its supporters and this was evident at St George’s Circus.
The group said: “Understandably, many people are also angry and frustrated in response to Just Stop Oil supporters blocking traffic.
“Normally such actions would be unacceptable but it’s 2022 and millions of cold hungry families can’t afford to pay their energy bills and millions of people worldwide have lost loved ones and the ability to provide for their families due to monsoons on steroids.
“We can’t afford new oil and gas, it’s going to take everything we love and need. It’s going to take peace, justice and the rule of law and we have tried everything else to make our criminal Government act.”
[ad_2]
