Just Stop Oil Activists Receive Prison Sentences for Van Gogh ‘Sunflowers’ Soup Protest: Climate Justice Debate

Two Just Stop Oil activists, Phoebe Plumer and Anna Holland, were jailed for throwing tomato soup on Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" painting.

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The painting was protected by glass and was not damaged in the October 2022 incident at the National Gallery in London.

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Judge Christopher Hehir punished Plumer to two years and three months, and Holland to 20 months in prison, along with charges for damages.

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Both activists were found responsible for causing over £5,000 in criminal damage during their protest.

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Plumer also received an additional sentence for joining in a peaceful protest that disturbed national infrastructure.

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In response to the sentencing, other Just Stop Oil activists repeated a similar protest by throwing tomato soup at Van Gogh's works.

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The climate action group says that activists are being imprisoned for non-violent protests, while fossil fuel exploitation continues.

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Environmental organizations, including Greenpeace, requested the judge to avoid prison sentences, as the artwork remained unharmed.

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Despite all this Plumer and Holland promised to continue their activism, stating that prison sentences won't silence their fight against fossil fuel extraction.

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