Two activists from the Just Stop Oil movement were apprehended after smashing the protective glass surrounding the historic Rokeby Venus painting at London’s National Gallery. The police confirmed that two individuals were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.
The painting, famous for being once slashed by a suffragette, witnessed a fresh attack. Just Stop Oil identified the arrested activists as Hanan, 22, and Harrison, 20, revealing that they had used safety hammers to break the protective glass in the incident that occurred on Monday, November 6.
Just Stop Oil is a group that demands the immediate cessation of all new oil and gas projects in the UK. Their message was clear as they shattered the glass, addressing the gallery with a powerful statement: “Women did not get the vote by voting; it is time for deeds, not words. It is time to Just Stop Oil.” They went on to emphasize the failure of politics, both in 1914 and today, in their commitment to halting new oil and gas projects, which they argue will result in the loss of millions of lives. The activists stressed the importance of art, life, and family, urging collective action to stop oil projects.
The Rokeby Venus has a history of being targeted for activism; it was famously slashed by suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914 within the National Gallery. Richardson’s protest was in response to the UK government’s imprisonment of Emmeline Pankhurst at the time.
A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil drew a parallel with the suffragette movement, quoting Emmeline Pankhurst: “The argument of the broken window pane is the most valuable argument in modern politics.” The spokesperson expressed disappointment that little has changed since 1914, highlighting governments’ actions in compromising the environment, families, and institutions to benefit corporate oil interests. They urged ordinary people to unite and demand change, inviting everyone to join their cause.
This incident marks another chapter in the history of activism surrounding the Rokeby Venus painting, as activists strive to raise awareness of environmental issues and call for action against new oil and gas projects.
(Note: Certain details such as the activists’ names and the incident date were adjusted to ensure accuracy in the rewritten article.)