The National Archives of Washington, in the United States, closed its galleries to the public, this Wednesday (14), after two climate activists poured a red substance on the protective casing that surrounds the country's Constitution.
According to information from the National Archives and Records Administration, the incident occurred during the afternoon and security was able to immediately detain the individuals. The case is investigated by local authorities.
A video posted on social media shows one of the vandals stating that “we all deserve clean air, clean water and a livable climate.” He then calls for an end to government subsidies for fossil fuels and for US President Joe Biden to declare a “climate emergency.”
“The National Archives is the sanctuary of our nation’s founding documents. They are here for all Americans to see and understand our country's principles, we take this vandalism very seriously and will insist that the perpetrators be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” said Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States, in an announcement.
The documents displayed at the site are under strong protection by thick bulletproof glass, inside a climate-controlled box. As a result, the Constitution did not appear to have suffered damage.
The climate activism group Declare Emergency claimed responsibility for the action through social media. “We don't want the end of civilization, but this is the path we're on,” she said.
Attacks on museums and open-air monuments have become increasingly common, especially in Europe, in recent years, where countries such as Germany and France have seen a growth in youth mobilizations in favor of the environmental cause.
At the end of January, the Italian Parliament approved a new bill that makes the punishment of climate activists involved in acts of vandalism against monuments and historic sites harsher.
The measure, approved by the Lower House of Parliament, with a vote of 138 votes in favor and 92 against, provides for fines of up to 40 thousand euros (R$ 216.5 thousand) for those who damage monuments, and up to 60 thousand euros (R$ $321.8 thousand) if cultural heritage is destroyed. Current fines vary between 1,500 (around R$8,000) and 15,000 euros (R$80,000) and the amounts disbursed by those convicted will be used for cleaning and conserving the affected monuments.
In recent months, protesters have staged a series of protests targeting famous works of art and landmarks in the country, such as the Trevi Fountain in Rome; the Palazzo Vecchio, in Florence; and the La Scala Opera House in Milan, where they threw paint, demanding stronger government action against the use of fossil fuels.
A recent high-profile case occurred in Paris, where two protesters threw soup over “Mona Lisa”, a masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci exhibited at the Louvre, in Paris, whose original screen is protected by a sheet of glass installed in 2005.
Similar cases occurred last year in other parts of Europe, such as the action of the Last Generation movement, which vandalized the Brandenburg Gate, an important 18th century monument located in Berlin, Germany. The vandalism resulted in the arrest of 14 people.
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