Two activists arrested after Rokeby Venus artwork targeted, as dozens of others held after blocking Whitehall

Just Stop Oil protesters have been arrested after smashing the glass covering a Diego Velázquez painting at the National Gallery in London, as police detained dozens of others who blocked Whitehall.

Two activists targeted the glass on the Rokeby Venus painting with safety hammers before they were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.

The artwork, which was painted by Velázquez in the 1600s, was slashed by the suffragette Mary Richardson in 1914. One of those involved on Monday said: “Women did not get the vote by voting; it is time for deeds not words.”

The Metropolitan police said at least 40 activists who were “slow marching” in Whitehall were also detained and that the road was clear after traffic was stopped for a brief period

  • nautilus@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    1 year ago

    Dudes be like nooo stop trying to hurt the nice paper and go protest somewhere else so we can more easily ignore you

    Putting the protection of art above what these people are protesting is both hilarious and also extremely depressing

    • Deceptichum@kbin.social
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      1 year ago

      But this is very easy to ignore, a bougie art gallery?

      Go slash a ceos neck or something if you’re going to go to gaol anyway.

    • brewbellyblueberry@sopuli.xyz
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      1 year ago

      Great job comprehending what you’re reading.

      It’s a million times more depressing that the majority of environmentalist-minded people apparently see these publicity stunts as positive.

        • HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          There is this specific absolutely beautiful instrument at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, Arizona. It was made out of trash by people in abject poverty. The arts might change, but it’s pretty damn hard to extinguish that creative spark people have.