Florida Governor Ron DeSantis was interrupted multiple times by climate protesters during an Iowa campaign event, with one protester being tackled to the ground by security. DeSantis referred to the protesters as "numbnuts" and criticized their behavior, stating that he would not let them disrupt the event. He has previously clashed with protesters on the campaign trail and emphasized that his administration does not allow them to influence policy or indoctrinate children.
Climate protesters from Extinction Rebellion NYC interrupted the opening night performance of Richard Wagner's "Tannhäuser" at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. They unfurled banners reading "No Opera On A Dead Planet," leading Met officials to bring down the curtain halfway through the second act. The performance resumed after the protesters were removed, but further interruptions occurred. The show was delayed by 22 minutes, and the production ended closer to midnight. This incident follows a trend of climate activists disrupting cultural events to draw attention to the climate crisis.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell was briefly escorted off stage during a speech on monetary policy in Washington, D.C., after climate protesters from a group called Climate Defiance interrupted the event. This is the second time in a month that the group has disrupted an event attended by Powell. The protesters were advocating for an end to fossil fuel extractions on federal lands and waters. Powell did not comment on the protesters when he returned, but in his speech, he emphasized the central bank's commitment to fighting inflation and suggested that further tightening of policy may be necessary.
Kenneth Darlington, an elderly American lawyer, has been arrested for gunning down two climate protesters in Panama. Prior to the deadly confrontation, Darlington allegedly warned his companions, "This ends today." He approached the protesters, waved his gun, and engaged in an argument before opening fire. One protester died at the scene, while another was pronounced dead at a hospital. Darlington was previously arrested for illegally possessing weapons, including an AK-47 and M16. He may face house arrest instead of jail time due to his age.
Climate activists belonging to the British group Just Stop Oil damaged the famous Velázquez painting, "Rokeby Venus," at the National Gallery in London. The activists struck the glass protecting the painting with emergency hammers, causing minimal damage to its surface. This incident follows a series of attention-grabbing stunts by the group in British museums over the past year and a half. The painting is currently undergoing conservation work, and there is no timeline for its return to display. The activists have been arrested for criminal damage.
Thousands of climate protesters marched in New York City, calling on President Biden and other world leaders to end new oil and gas drilling. The protesters expressed frustration with the Biden administration's approval of permits for fossil fuel projects despite its commitment to transitioning to renewable energy. The demonstrations, which followed similar protests around the world, highlighted the urgent need to address climate change and the growing demand for immediate action to combat the existential threat posed by fossil fuels.
Radical climate protesters in Munich, Germany, were dragged by a vehicle after they refused to move from incoming traffic. The Letzte Generation environmental group posted a video showing the car slowly lurching forward, dragging the protesters into the roadway. The activists, who wear orange vests, have been staging protests, blocking major roads and highways, causing delays and sparking anger from the public. In a separate incident, a woman grabbed a climate protester by the hair and dragged her to the side of the road. German authorities are investigating the incidents and considering criminal proceedings.
Two women were detained in Stockholm after they threw paint and glued themselves to the frame of a Claude Monet painting, "The Artist's Garden at Giverny," on display at Sweden's National Museum as part of an exhibition. The activists were protesting against climate change and demanding the Swedish government reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The painting is being examined for damage by the museum's conservators. This is the latest incident of climate activists targeting artwork in museums to draw attention to global warming.
Two women were detained after throwing paint and glue at a Claude Monet painting, "The Artist's Garden at Giverny," on display at Sweden's National Museum as part of an exhibition. The painting was encased in glass and is being examined for damage. The activists, part of the Restore Wetlands group, aimed to pressure the Swedish government to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and draw attention to the climate catastrophe. This is the latest artwork targeted by climate activists to draw attention to global warming.
Climate protesters from Just Stop Oil group blocked traffic in London, causing anger among commuters who physically confronted them. The group demands that Britain immediately stop all new oil and gas production. The police only intervened to arrest a man who got physical with the demonstrators. Just Stop Oil has been involved in similar protests since April, including the destruction of famous art and private property.
Climate protesters disrupted Shell's shareholder meeting in London, attempting to rush the stage and preventing the meeting from proceeding for over an hour. Security personnel carried several protesters out of the room. The protesters accused fossil fuel companies of raking in record profits while polluting the environment. Shell reported a record $39.9 billion profit for 2022. A small but vocal collection of Shell's investors pushed for a shareholder resolution that demanded the company strengthen its goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, but the resolution was rejected by the company's board.
Climate protesters vandalized the display case of Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer sculpture at the National Gallery of Art museum in Washington, D.C. The sculpture was taken off display while museum conservators assess potential damage. The attack echoes recent protests in which activists threw foodstuffs at famous paintings. The International Council of Museums (ICOM) has stated its opposition to all climate activism protests that vandalize art, saying protestors “severely underestimate the fragility” of works on show.
Climate protesters smeared black and red paint on the case and pedestal of Degas's sculpture "Little Dancer Aged Fourteen" at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. The protest aimed to bring attention to the climate crisis and demanded President Joe Biden declare a climate emergency as well as stop issuing new drilling permits and subsidies for fossil fuels. The museum's director denounced the behavior, and the artwork has been taken off display for assessment. The protest follows several other climate protests across museums in Europe, Australia, and Canada.
Climate protesters from German group Last Generation delayed the start of the Berlin E-Prix Formula E race by swarming the grid, climbing fences, and gluing themselves to safety vehicles. The group's goal is to get maximum impact in the news by attacking things that people were already looking at and shift attention to climate consciousness. The race's title sponsor is a Saudi Aramco subsidiary, and the group's actions were not directly protesting Formula E, but rather using the televised spectacle to their advantage.
