Just Stop Oil Activists Strike Again: Phoebe Plummer and the Sunflower Soup Protests
In a dramatic series of protests, climate activist group Just Stop Oil has once again targeted Vincent van Gogh’s famous Sunflowers paintings. This time, it involved three protesters hurling soup over the iconic works at London’s National Gallery, just hours after two fellow activists were jailed for a similar act. Among the jailed activists was Phoebe Plummer, who received a two-year sentence for her involvement in the October 2022 incident when she threw tomato soup on Van Gogh's Sunflowers (1888). Her co-defendant, Anna Holland, was sentenced to 20 months for the same offense.
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This latest act of protest unfolded at the Poets and Lovers exhibition, where two more versions of Sunflowers (1888 and 1889) became the new targets. The activists, two women and one man, were arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage. As with the previous attack, the paintings were removed and examined by experts, who confirmed they were unharmed. The paintings were protected by glass, preventing any significant damage, but the frames, considered artworks in their own right, were not as fortunate in previous incidents.
This protest was clearly timed to make a bold statement. Plummer’s conviction has been central to the narrative surrounding these actions, with activists positioning themselves as "prisoners of conscience" fighting against what they call the destructive forces of the oil industry. In a video released by Just Stop Oil, the activists express that their actions, though disruptive, are necessary in the broader context of the climate emergency. “Future generations will regard these prisoners of conscience to be on the right side of history,” one protester declared as they faced outraged onlookers.
Phoebe Plummer, now one of the faces of this disruptive movement, has drawn comparisons between herself and historical figures like Emmeline Pankhurst, Gandhi, and Nelson Mandela—individuals who were also criminalized for their activism. During her trial, she reiterated that civil resistance is one of the last tools available to push for the urgent change needed to protect the planet from escalating climate catastrophes.
While many condemn the damage caused to priceless art as a reckless disregard for cultural heritage, Plummer and her peers remain steadfast in their belief that their actions are a form of peaceful protest against governments and industries that continue to fuel the climate crisis. The protesters argue that their actions, though extreme, are minimal compared to the long-term environmental damage caused by the continued use of fossil fuels.
The situation highlights a growing tension between climate activists and the public. While the urgency of addressing climate change is widely accepted, the methods used by Just Stop Oil have sparked a heated debate about the balance between raising awareness and respecting public spaces, art, and culture. With Phoebe Plummer now in prison, and protests continuing, this story is far from over.
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