London Court Sentences Climate Activists for Soup Protest on Van Gogh Painting Amid Growing Backlash

Two climate activists, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, were sentenced to prison by a London court for their role in a high-profile protest against fossil fuels, during which they threw soup on Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.” Plummer, aged 23, received a two-year sentence, while Holland, aged 22, was given 20 months. Both are members of the activist group Just Stop Oil.

The incident occurred in October 2022 at the National Gallery in London, where they also glued themselves to the wall beneath the painting. While the artwork itself was protected by glass, the activists caused significant damage to its gold frame, leading to criminal damage charges.

Their sentences are part of a growing trend in the UK, where authorities have been handing down severe penalties to climate protesters. Recent laws have granted the police and courts greater authority to penalize disruptive demonstrations, even those that are peaceful.

These laws have sparked controversy and criticism, particularly from rights groups and international bodies, who argue that they are overly harsh and threaten democratic freedoms. Despite the legal consequences, Plummer and Holland’s protest is just one in a series of actions aimed at drawing attention to the role of fossil fuels in the climate crisis.

Interestingly, their sentencing did not seem to deter other activists. Shortly after Plummer and Holland were sentenced, three more Just Stop Oil activists threw soup on two additional Van Gogh sunflower paintings at the National Gallery.

This latest action, like the 2022 incident, was staged as part of the group’s ongoing campaign against fossil fuel use. The repeated targeting of iconic artworks underscores the lengths to which climate activists are willing to go in order to bring attention to their cause, even in the face of prison sentences.

Judge Christopher Hehir, who presided over Plummer and Holland’s case, condemned their actions, stressing the potential damage that could have been inflicted on a cultural treasure. He noted that the activists showed little concern for the painting’s preservation.

Hehir also criticized their belief that their cause justified criminal behavior. In addition to the sentence for the Van Gogh protest, Plummer was given an extra three-month sentence for a separate protest in 2023, which involved blocking traffic during a “slow march” in west London.

The UK government’s approach to dealing with climate protesters has faced significant backlash from human rights organizations. Critics argue that the laws used to prosecute activists are punitive and stifle the right to protest.

Plummer, representing herself in court, argued that their sentences were symbolic of a broader attack on democracy. This debate over the limits of protest in the face of urgent climate concerns continues to play out, raising questions about how societies balance civil disobedience with the rule of law in times of environmental crisis.