Two climate activists, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, were recently sentenced to prison after their highly publicised protest in October 2022 at the National Gallery in London.
Orchestrated by the disruptive climate activism group Just Stop Oil, Plummer and Holland threw tomato soup over Vincent van Gogh’s iconic Sunflowers. Their behaviour has triggered a widespread debate on how to balance protests, environmental causes and the protection of important cultural items.
The protest
On 14th October, Plummer and Holland, aged 22 and 23 respectively, entered the National Gallery wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts. They approached Van Gogh’s famous 1888 work and threw two cans of tomato soup at it.
Although the painting itself wasn’t harmed due to the protective glass, they still caused an estimated £10,000 worth of damage to its 17th-century frame.
After throwing the soup, Plummer and Holland glued their hands to the wall beneath the painting in an attempt to emphasise their message. In a video shared by Just Stop Oil, Plummer was filmed, questioning, 'What matters more, art or life? Is it more important than food or justice?'
She went on to link their protest to the climate crisis and rising living costs, arguing that doing something about these problems was far more important than the value of priceless art.
The consequences
The activists were quickly arrested and in July 2024, after the jury deliberated for three hours, they were both found guilty of criminal damage. Judge Christopher Hehir delivered their sentences – two years for Plummer and 20 months for Holland.
He criticised their actions, highlighting how close they came to 'destroying one of the most valuable artworks in the world.' The judge clarified that while being able to protest is a democratic right, it couldn’t justify acts of vandalism.
The wider campaign
The incident at the National Gallery wasn’t an isolated action but part of a larger series of protests by Just Stop Oil. Since its inception, the group has used highly visible and disruptive methods to highlight the urgency of climate change.
As well as the Sunflowers protest, Just Stop Oil activists have carried out other actions, including glueing themselves to John Constable’s The Hay Wain and causing disruption across the UK.
These protests often spark outrage from the public due to their apparent disrespect for cultural institutions. However, supporters of the group argue that the scale of the climate crisis needs radical action and Judge Christopher Hehir’s sentences were against human rights.
Speaking out to defend her actions, Plummer herself said, 'It is not just myself being sentenced today, or my co-defendants, but the foundations of democracy itself.' Her words reflect the deep conviction shared by many of the Just Stop Oil members.
The aftermath
The sentencing of Plummer and Holland has sparked mixed opinions. Some think their prison terms are too harsh for a peaceful protest. But others see it as a way to prevent future harm to cultural sites and avoid widespread disruption in the UK.
In Judge Hehir’s ruling, he criticised Plummer for portraying herself as a political prisoner, stating, 'We don’t have political prisoners in this country.' He emphasised that her beliefs didn’t give her the right to break the law.
Despite their sentences, the activists’ supporters remain undeterred. Mere hours after their sentencing, other members of Just Stop Oil staged another protest at the National Gallery. Soup was thrown again, this time over other Van Gogh paintings in the 'Poets and Lovers' exhibition.
The group keeps defying the rules, using repeated protests to push the government into taking serious action on climate change.
Continuing the conversation
The prison sentences of Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland have put Just Stop Oil’s climate activism in the spotlight, making their protest a symbol of the climate movement. Outside the courtroom, Just Stop Oil supporters compared their activism to past social justice struggles. They are confident in seeing themselves as prisoners of conscience fighting for a fossil fuel-free future.
