Two activists from Just Stop Oil, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, have been found guilty of criminal damage after an incident involving Vincent van Gogh’s painting “Sunflowers” at the National Gallery in London. The controversial act, which took place in October 2022, involved the duo throwing tomato soup over the protected artwork and subsequently glueing themselves to the wall beneath it.
The event, which occurred in Room 43 of the National Gallery, aimed to press the UK government for action against new oil and gas projects. Although the painting itself was unharmed due to protective glass, the frame suffered minor damage, leading to charges of criminal damage exceeding £5,000.
Judge Hehir, presiding over the trial at Southwark Crown Court, has indicated a custodial sentence for the defendants, with sentencing scheduled for September 27. This follows a contentious trial where legal defences including the ‘proportionality’ of the activists’ actions and their motivations related to climate change were preemptively dismissed by the judge. The judge also barred any mention of the climate crisis during the trial, a move that has sparked considerable debate about the relevance of motive in criminal actions.
The trial unfolded against a backdrop of the UK experiencing its hottest recorded day, adding a poignant backdrop to the proceedings. This legal decision arrives amid ongoing discussions about the intersection of environmental activism and legal boundaries.
As the case concluded, the debate continues on the effectiveness and consequences of such dramatic protests in the fight against climate change. The UK government also faces scrutiny in a parallel legal challenge concerning its climate policies, which activists argue are insufficient to protect citizens from the escalating impacts of climate change.
