Climate activists target Van Gogh's Sunflowers at National Gallery after fellow protesters jailed

Three Just Stop Oil activists threw tomato soup over Vincent Van Gogh's Sunflowers (1888) and Sunflowers (1889) at London's National Gallery. This action occurred one hour after two fellow protesters, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, received prison sentences for a similar 2022 attack on Sunflowers (1888). Plummer, 23, was sentenced to two years, while Holland, 22, received 20 months. Judge Christopher Hehir condemned their 'arrogance' during sentencing. The activists declared that future generations would view imprisoned climate protesters as 'on the right side of history.' An open letter signed by over 100 artists, curators, and historians, published by Greenpeace UK and Liberate Tate, had pleaded against jail time, arguing that such acts align with artistic iconoclasm. Plummer stated in court that non-violent civil resistance was necessary to address the climate emergency. The paintings were part of a Van Gogh exhibition at the National Gallery.