Climate activists charged after National Gallery of Art demonstration.

Protesters Indicted for Vandalizing National Gallery of Art Sculpture

Two protesters have been indicted by the US Attorney in Washington, D.C. for their alleged vandalism of a sculpture’s display case at the National Gallery of Art.

It was a shocking scene at the National Gallery of Art when two individuals approached Edgar Degas’s “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen” sculpture and smeared black and red paint on its Plexiglas case using their hands in full view of other visitors. One of the protesters, Timothy Martin of North Carolina, 53, wrote the letters “DECL” in homage to “Declare Emergency,” the climate change campaign he is allegedly a part of.

Charges and Consequences

Martin and fellow protester Joanna Smith of New York, 53, turned themselves in Friday morning after the pair was charged with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States and injury to a National Gallery of Art exhibit, according to the US Attorney’s Office. There were other co-conspirators that remained unnamed and without charges. These two charged were caught on video.

The consequences of their actions are severe. “We unequivocally denounce this behavior,” National Gallery of Art Director Kaywin Feldman said in a statement. Feldman also reported that the museum’s expert conservation team examined the sculpture, ultimately finding that the protesters caused $2,400 in damage. The exhibit was not on display for ten days as a result.

Declare Emergency described Martin and Smith as “two parents who are terrified about their children’s’ futures (as well as all children)” in a tweet of the protest that same day. Now they face a maximum sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

What Does Memorial Day Mean to You?

Declare Emergency’s website continues to solicit volunteers in the Washington area, with the warning that its future campaigns have the “possibility that it could lead to … arrest.”

Takeaway

This incident serves as a reminder that peaceful protest is a constitutional right, but vandalism and destruction of property are not. It is important to find constructive ways to express our opinions and concerns without causing harm to others or their property.