Just Stop Oil activists have thrown soup over another pair of Vincent van Gogh paintings in revenge for the jailing of two vandals who did the same thing in 2022.
The protest group called the copycat soup-throwing a “sign of defiance” after its members, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, were imprisoned for up to two years at Southwark Crown Court earlier today.
At around 2.30pm, three demonstrators from the controversial group threw Heinz vegetable soup over two of Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” series – one from 1889 and one from 1888, the latter of which had been daubed with the orange liquid two years ago.
The trio defended their imprisoned comrades to attendees at the Van Gogh “Poets and Lovers” exhibition at the National Gallery.
One Just Stop Oil member claimed “future generations will regard these prisoners of conscience to be on the right side of history”
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One Just Stop Oil member, Phil Green, 24, claimed: “Future generations will regard these prisoners of conscience to be on the right side of history.”
While another demonstrator, 71-year-old retired professor Ludi Simpson, said: “My action is from the heart and the head. I know politicians can do the right thing if they listen to the facts, but their inaction is burning up our lives.
“Is it too much to ask for a safe future? Soup on sunflowers is a splash of protest. The treasured pictures remain unharmed.
“What is harming our future is the criminal greed of the fossil fuel economy. Our government can choose to end it now!”
The 1888 “Sunflowers” painting has been daubed with soup for the second time
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The Metropolitan Police said a trio had been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage.
A spokesman for the force told GB News: “Police were called at 2.40pm on Friday, September 27, to the National Gallery after a group of Just Stop Oil protesters allegedly threw soup on a painting.
“Three people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and have been taken into custody.”
More to follow…