Climate activists on Thursday smeared the outside of St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice with mud, calling the action a “fire alarm.” Protesters used fire extinguishers to spray a mixture of water and soil on the church walls, then unfurled a banner reading “repair fund.”
“We are here to sound the fire alarm. This is a non-violent protest. Venice is sinking because our governments have done nothing about the climate crisis,” the climate activists stressed, according to media reports.
Six activists taken away by the police
“Those of you who are here today to take photos and visit this church are privileged. They are the last people who can see this church above sea level,” they emphasized. Six activists were taken to police headquarters in Venice.
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called it a “shameful gesture that we strongly condemn.” “Our city is working on concrete actions to protect the environment. Vandalism is certainly not the right method to find solutions,” says Brugnaro. The facade of the basilica was immediately cleaned.
New regulations against vandalism
In April, Italy’s Council of Ministers passed a bill with strict penalties for people who defile, ruin or damage landmarks.
The scheme is intended to prevent vandalism against works of art; Fines of up to 60,000 euros are expected. These amounts are in addition to the amounts to which perpetrators are ultimately sentenced in criminal or civil proceedings.
Source: Krone
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