Two climate activists defaced a Christopher Columbus painting in Madrid, Spain on the day commemorating his arrival to the Americas.
On October 12, two climate activists from the group Futuro Vegetal entered the Navel Museum in Madrid. They then proceeded to throw biodegradable red paint at a painting of Christopher Columbus. The painting, First Tribute to Christopher Columbus (1892) by José Garnelo, was located close to the museum entrance. The painting depicts Columbus setting foot in the New World, particularly the Bahamas, on October 12, 1492. After defacing the painting, the activists also unfurled a flag reading “October 12, nothing to celebrate. Ecosocial justice.”.
Also Read: Smithsonian Organization Closes Doors As US Shutdown Continues
The two activists, who are unidentified as of now, were detained by the security guards and later arrested by the police. Their group, Futuro Vegetal, later released a statement denouncing the day, which is celebrated as the National Day of Spain. They said that the day “celebrates centuries of oppression and genocide against the Indigenous peoples of Abya Yala”, and added that the attack was done to bring attention towards the “extractive neocolonialism” which continues to snatch land and resources away from indigenous people.
Christopher Columbus remains a highly divisive figure in the Western world, particularly the Spanish-speaking world. In Spain, he is officially considered a hero. However, there have been calls to recognize the negative consequences of Columbus’s actions, particularly the destruction of indigenous people and slavery. In Spanish-speaking countries like Mexico and Argentina, October 12 is a public holiday, but as a celebration of the natives, not Columbus.
