Two Individuals Arrested for Vandalizing Columbus Artwork with Paint in Spain

Two activists from the Spanish climate group Futuro Vegetal were arrested for throwing biodegradable red paint on a historic painting at Museo Naval in Madrid on October 12. The protest was timed with Spain’s National Day, highlighting Futuro Vegetal’s stance against Columbus’s legacy, which they view as a symbol of oppression and genocide against Indigenous peoples. Museum sources reported damage to the artwork’s surface and frame. The activists are still in police custody, and the incident reflects a broader trend of climate protests at cultural institutions facing legal consequences globally.