Decolonize This Place's Activism Targets Museum Foundations and Board Politics

Decolonize This Place, a New York-based movement facilitated by MTL+ Collective with core members Amin Husain and Nitasha Dhillon, held its fourth annual demonstration on Columbus Day. The group aims to spotlight Indigenous struggles, Black liberation, the Palestinian cause, global wage workers, and de-gentrification. A protester quoted by The Art Newspaper questioned the foundations of museum beauty, reflecting the movement's critical stance. A significant campaign emerged when Warren Kanders, vice chair of the Whitney Museum's board and CEO of a company producing teargas used at the Mexican border, faced protests led by Decolonize This Place. This activism garnered extensive media coverage and prompted several artists to withdraw from the Whitney Biennial, ultimately leading to Kanders's resignation. The victory underscores the movement's growing influence on institutional programs and politics within the art world.