More than a dozen climate protesters were arrested after they took over the lobby of New York’s Museum of Natural History to “die” next to the iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton — while others hung posters at the Guggenheim.
The NYPD confirmed on Monday that 13 members of New York City’s Extinction Rebellion were arrested at the two museums on Saturday, although it was unclear how many were arrested in each action.
At the Natural History Museum, protesters were pictured lying on the ground as a speaker stood on top of a dinosaur skeleton to talk about the dangers of fossil fuels.
“We’re here because the dinosaurs went extinct, and we might be next,” the group chanted at one point, along with, “Human pollution is causing mass extinction.”
The entrance was quickly closed to prevent regular museum visitors from seeing their actions, the protesters claimed later.
“Visitors queuing for tickets are informed that they do not need to purchase anything, allowing them to be ushered into the museum quickly and prevented from hearing our message,” Extinction Rebellion NY tweeted alongside a video showing a mostly empty lobby.
Climate protesters lay on the ground as a speaker stood on a skeleton plinth at the Natural History Museum to talk about the dangers of using fossil fuels on Sunday. AMNH Press / Extinction Rebellion
Protesters also said they were prevented from entering further into the museum – with police vehicles greeting them when they finally exited.
A spokesperson for the Natural History Museum stated that it was a small demonstration, and insisted that no arrests were actually made inside the museum.
Meanwhile at the Guggenheim, other members of New York City’s Extinction Rebellion are seen being escorted by police.
It was also unclear if any protesters were charged in the protest, which saw activists chant “We are not afraid” as police officers appeared in the lobby.
Climate protesters with Extinction Rebellion are doing a “die” to protest climate change. AMNH Press / Extinction Rebellion As climate protesters left the Natural History Museum on Sunday, police vehicles could be seen waiting outside. AMNH Press / Extinction Rebellion
Footage from the protest at the art museum showed activists placing a sign on the steps of the Guggenheim that read, “No artist on the planet dies” as one man denounced Mayor Eric Adams’ recent budget cuts.
“This city uses fossil fuels entirely. It won’t work on the future planet unless we start changing,” said the protester.
“Our mayor, our government has failed us. They cut all the things like the library, all the things we need, so all we’re left with is a place like this,” he continued.
“We ask museums like this to help us, because our government is failing.”
Protesters argue that museums have a duty to fight climate change
“Your duty goes beyond mere heritage preservation. You have a duty to educate and empower people at a time when elected leaders and the media have consistently failed to do so,” Extinction Rebellion said in a statement, claiming that more than a third of all animal and plant species are expected to become extinct. by 2050.
“Our government does not want to talk about this fact; the media does not want to be responsible for them; and the wider public was increasingly angered by this omission.
The protest at the Natural History Museum comes just a day after the group staged another demonstration at the Guggenheim.@raybaileyphoto / Extinction Rebellion
“Where did all this anger and energy go?” the group asked rhetorically.
The Post has reached out to the Natural History Museum and the Guggenheim Museum for comment.
Extinction Rebellion has previously postponed the semi-finals at the US Open, and has held other demonstrations at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Christie’s Auction House.
It describes itself online as “a global movement that uses nonviolent civil disobedience in an effort to stop mass extinctions and minimize the risk of social collapse.”
Categories: Trending
Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
