Climate activist, Joanna Smith, a 54-year-old woman from Brooklyn, New York, recently made headlines after pleading guilty to defacing an Edgar Degas sculpture housed in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Smith was charged specifically with causing injury to Degas’ “Little Dancer Aged Fourteen,” which she vandalized by smearing black and red paint over the iconic piece.
Smith wasn’t alone in this act of vandalism. Assisted by fellow activist Timothy Martin, the pair entered the gallery equipped with paint-filled water bottles. Their actions resulted in over $4,000 in damages to the exhibit. This act was not spontaneous, but rather premeditated, as Smith and Martin had researched the piece and had even recorded a video explaining their intentions ahead of their act of vandalism.
This audacious act marked the first high-profile act of this type at a US museum. This was not a simple act of hooliganism but a part of a nonviolent protest against fossil fuel companies. Both Smith and Martin are members of the climate protest group Declare Emergency. Their objective was to draw attention to the potential suffering of future generations due to the crisis of climate change.
Smith now faces severe consequences for her actions. She could face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000; her sentencing is scheduled for April 3, 2024. While Smith has pleaded guilty to this act, Martin, on the other hand, has rejected a plea deal and plans to go to trial next year. He has expressed interest in how a jury would interpret the issue of climate emergency in relation to the damage of museum property. This case then, serves as a stark reminder of the lengths to which some individuals are willing to go to raise awareness about the pressing issue of climate change.
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