The National Archives faced a temporary closure on Wednesday after two climate change protestors staged a demonstration by dumping red powder on the display case housing the U.S. Constitution.
The incident, which occurred at approximately 2:30 pm, prompted security personnel to swiftly detain the individuals involved. According to a press release by the National Archives, the Constitution did not suffer any physical damage. However, the National Archives is currently assessing any potential damage to the Rotunda where the document is exhibited.
“The Constitution was unaffected in its encasement. No damage was done to the document itself,” the National Archives clarified. “The agency’s conservators were onsite within minutes and are conducting a thorough evaluation of the damage to the Rotunda. For Thursday, February 15, the Rotunda will remain closed for cleaning. The rest of the National Archives Building will be open on its regular schedule.”
The protestors, identified as members of the climate change activism group Declare Emergency, were seen on video giving a prepared speech while attempting to vandalize the Constitution.
“We are determined to foment a rebellion,” one man is heard saying in the video. “We all deserve clean air, water, food and a livable climate.”
Dr. Colleen Shogan, Archivist of the United States, stated that the National Archives takes vandalism “very seriously” and will insist that the “perpetrators be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
This incident is just the latest in a string of public vandalism targeting historic artifacts and artworks over the last year. Previous instances have seen protestors defacing iconic pieces such as the Mona Lisa and a painting by Monet, all under the guise of climate change activism. Of course, these acts of vandalism do little to progress a political cause and instead irritate those who see it as disrespectful towards historic documents and works of art.
This piece first appeared at TPUSA.
