The British environmental extremist organization, Just Stop Oil, is now reportedly considering slashing priceless works of art after their strategy of merely defacing the paintings with food products failed to achieve the desired result.
A spokesperson for the group, Alex De Koning told Sky News it’s “insane” that “more people are outraged” at the organization’s tactics than monsoons that have destroyed vast swaths of Pakistan recently.
Just Stop Oil began making international headlines in October as the group performed several viral stunts, including dousing Vincent van Gogh’s famous “Sunflowers” painting at the National Gallery in London with tomato soup. The same tactic has been used against a handful of other priceless works of art in recent weeks, though a transparent, protective covering used by museums prevents the vandalism from doing lasting damage to the paintings.
Having failed to change hearts and minds by temporarily sullying artwork and shutting down crucial highways, Just Stop Oil is now turning to more drastic measures.
Koning explained the strategy shift as harkening back to the suffragettes who he claims adopted a similar approach a century ago in an attempt to raise awareness for their cause.
“If things need to escalate then we’re going to take inspiration from past successful movements and we’re going to do everything we can. If that’s unfortunately what it needs to come to, then that’s unfortunately what it needs to come to. We’re fighting for our lives, why would we do any less?” Koning told Sky News.
Art galleries and police officers, who so far have been delicate in handling such vandalizing attempts, have stated an intention to respond to new attacks more swiftly.
“Where activists cross the line into criminality, the Met will provide a proportionate policing response. We will arrive quickly, deal with the situation efficiently, remove and arrest activists as appropriate and return things to normal as soon as possible,” law enforcement agent Karen Findlay said, according to the Telegraph.
London’s Metropolitan Police echoed Findlay’s sentiments. “Everybody has a right to protest, but they do not have a right to commit crime whilst doing so, or to disproportionately impact others. We are alert to the new Just Stop Oil tactics and will move quickly to intervene where serious disruption is being caused.”
Still, Just Stop Oil seems unbothered by the prospects of stricter enforcement. The group warned that it will “continue to escalate unless the government meets our demand” including a complete halt on any national gas or oil investments.
According to the Telegraph, JSO protested every day in October throughout London.