Two Just Stop Oil protesters were arrested after breaking the glass covering the painting of Diego Velázquez, “Venus in the Mirror”, on National Gallery.
The climate justice protest group released a video on Twitter on Monday (November 6) that showed two protesters breaking the glass of the 17th century painting. The painting was previously cut by suffragist Mary Richardson in 1914 as part of the campaign for women's suffrage.
Protesters then addressed gallery visitors. “Women didn’t get the vote by voting; It's time for actions, not words. It’s time to just stop the oil,” said Hanan, 22, one of the protesters. The other, Harrison, 20, added: “Politics is failing us. Politics failed women in 1914. If millions are going to die because of new oil and gas licenses – millions – if we love history, if we love art, and if we love our families, we should just stop oil.”
The video posted on social media asked viewers to join Just Stop Oil in a march through London on 18 November. The action followed news that a new law allowing the introduction of new oil and gas licenses every year will be announced in the King's Speech on Tuesday.
The Met Police said two activists were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage.
Source: Dazed