Climate activists in the USA after a protest in a museum in custody

The two are accused of smearing paint on the display case and base of French artist Edgar Degas’ sculpture “Little 14-Year-Old Dancer” at the National Gallery of Art. According to the US Attorney’s Office, they are charged with conspiring to commit a crime against the United States and damaging a museum. The 53-year-old men had turned themselves in to the authorities. According to prosecutors, the attack caused $2,400 (2,200 euros) in damage, and the work had to be removed from the exhibition for ten days to be repaired. The two activists face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000.

A group called Declare Emergency claimed responsibility for last April’s action, which US attorneys said also blocked roads in the Washington area to draw attention to climate change. It was one of the first protests of this kind in North America. In Europe, climate activists attacked paintings by Vincent van Gogh, Claude Monet and Francisco de Goya last year.