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
I mean, if there demands were not made of dreams and pixie dust, maybe I would get behind them. They literally have no plan beyond, “we want all oil to stop and the world to be perfect in eight years.”
It’s really funny because the system we are now living in is already made of dreams and pixie dust. Infinite growth in a world with finite resources? You have to be insane to advocate for that bullshit… or rich.