Prison sentences for environmental activists who threw soup at a Van Gogh painting

Members of the environmental group Just Stop Oil appeared in court in London today for an action they carried out in October 2022. In the sentencing hearing for the two activists who threw soup at a painting displayed behind special glass at London's National Gallery and glued themselves to the wall to draw attention to environmental issues, Judge Christopher Hehir noted that the pair caused damage exceeding 5,000 pounds (approximately 230,000 Turkish lira).

Judge Hehir stated that the action was among those that "cause great harm to society" and that throwing soup could be considered an act of violence. Hehir remarked, "You think your beliefs give you the right to do anything. I have listened to your long explanations about your political views. The claim that people like you are political prisoners in democracies is ridiculous, offensive, and stupid. You are proud and you feel no remorse." 

SENTENCES RAINED DOWN

The judge announced that Plummer was sentenced to 2 years in prison and Holland to 20 months. Plummer was also sentenced to an additional 3 months in prison for a past action that involved blocking traffic for 20 minutes. Two other Just Stop Oil activists, Chiara Sarti and Daniel Hall, who participated in "Slow March" protests that stopped traffic last year, were given 12-month community service orders. While the pair was ordered to pay 500 pounds in court costs, Sarti was also sentenced to attend a 15-day rehabilitation program.

Activists from the environmental group Just Stop Oil, known for their actions involving stopping traffic or painting works of art, painted the 4,000-5,000-year-old standing stones at Stonehenge in Salisbury, England, orange on June 19, calling on the new British government to take steps to end fossil fuel use by 2030.

WHAT HAD HAPPENED?

One day after that action, Just Stop Oil activists who cut the fences of London's Stansted Airport and entered the grounds painted two parked private jets. The activists stated that they carried out this protest to draw attention to the fact that 1 percent of the world's population produces 50 percent of aviation emissions.

The London Police, who raided a public "Soup Evening" event organized by Just Stop Oil in London on June 27 to promote and introduce their environmental actions, detained a large number of participants. The police alleged that information regarding "carrying out actions to disrupt operations at airports" was provided at this event. Just Stop Oil activists are known for their protests they call "Slow Marches," where they block roads in high-traffic areas and glue themselves to the pavement.

Protesting fossil fuel production and new fossil fuel exploration licenses, the activists draw attention with their orange paint and confetti-filled actions targeting works of art, sports competitions, and public events. In previous years, Just Stop Oil activists also carried out actions that caused interruptions to snooker tournaments, the Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, and matches in England's top-tier football league, the Premier League.