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Climate Activists Glue Themselves to Van Gogh Painting at London Art Gallery

Two climate activists glued themselves to the frame of a Vincent van Gogh painting at an art gallery in London, footage posted on June 30 showed.

The British group Just Stop Oil posted the footage showing the two young protesters with their hands glued to ‘La Crau With Peach Trees in Blossom’ at The Courtauld Institute of Art. Two signs are stuck to the wall reading: “1.5 is dead” and “#NoNewOil.”

In the footage, one of the protesters can be heard saying, “I’m sorry everybody. We don’t want to be doing this …. but we’re terrified for our future.”

Further footage posted by the group showed police at the art gallery.

Just Stop Oil describes itself as “a coalition of groups working together to ensure the Government commits to halting new fossil fuel licensing and production,” on their website.

The Courtauld told Storyful that the painting was removed from display following the protest.

“Our initial assessment is that the painting is undamaged. The frame will require treatment to remove glue residue before the work can be returned to display,” The Courtauld said. Credit: Just Stop Oil via Storyful

Video transcript

- [INAUDIBLE]

- Sorry everybody, we don't want to be doing this. We're here, glued to this painting. It's a beautiful painting. Because we're terrified for our future.

We're here through Just Stop Oil. We expect to be arrested today. We're here because the UK government is pushing through over 40 new fossil fuel projects, and with every single project they sign, it's like signing our death warrants.

My generation has no other choice but to take this kind of action. For 30 years, we've been outside parliament with our banners and our flags. In 30 years, nothing has gotten done. If there were any other way of getting the change we need, we would have done it. We've tried everything else.

- No, we cannot continue. We cannot continue going back around our normal lives, doing things like this, when there's such an injustice happening. It is not OK, and the government is not looking after us. It doesn't give a [MUTED] about us.

[INTERPOSING VOICES]