Information reaching Kossyderrickent has it that Oil protesters smashed glass of Diego Velázquez’ Rokeby Venus painting at London’s National Gallery created in 1647 worth $90 million.
Human rights group Liberty responded to the arrests, saying: “The use of this new power is a dangerous escalation of the attack on the right to protest, with protesters potentially facing up to a year in prison for standing up for what they believe in.
Oil protesters destroy painting created in 1647, worth $90M.
“These arrests are a clear attempt to criminalise people for exercising that right. The government, in passing these new laws, has tried to make it even harder for the public to stand up to power.”
A series of Just Stop Oil protests have taken place in recent days, including on Wednesday when more than 30 people were charged after blocking Earl’s Court Road.
Judge Snow responded: “I am afraid I am not going to wait for you to get back from India.
“If you have to miss out on things, you have to miss out on things.”
The performance at London’s Sondheim Theatre was halted around 9pm on October 5 after a group of eco activists entered the stage.
The estimated cost of the cancellation to the theatre was £80,000, the court was told. They could be forced to pay back the full amount if they are found guilty, the judge said. Sadiq Khan and Labour’s shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, both said that targeting the monument was “unacceptable” in X posts now deleted.
Tory party deputy chairman Lee Anderson said that JSO were “now stuck to the Cenotaph” as he shared a picture on social media site X.
The activists said they had been moved to the base of the monument after shutting down traffic on Whitehall, an account supported by one officer at the scene.
The Met Police confirmed that there were no offences linked to the Cenotaph and no protester glued themselves to the road.
They added that the arrests were made for breaching section 7 of the Public Order Act at various points between Trafalgar Square, Parliament Square and near to the Cenotaph.
A group of activists disrupted Les Miserables during a rendition One Day More, which sees a performer waving a red flag.
They unfurled their trademark orange Just Stop Oil flag instead and were met by boos from furious audience members.
The protesters then chained themselves to the stage with bicycle locks – prompting the cast to be forced backstage while the audience was ushered outside.
In recent days Just Stop Oil covered a dinosaur skeleton and the Natural Museum in London in orange powder.
The Metropolitan Police said in May that Just Stop Oil protesters had cost the force more than £3.5million and almost 11,000 officers shifts in a single month.