TWO activists from climate action group This is Rigged have sprayed “the people are mightier than the lord” onto a portait of King Charles III.
One person held a stencil on the glass covering the painting, while the other sprayed it in pink paint. Both wore t-shirts with This is Rigged printed on them.
The slogan is from the Highland Land League which fought for the rights of crofters following the Highland Clearances.
It is part of a sustained series of actions in which the campaign group has vowed to “shut down the Scottish oil industry” which saw blockades by the group at terminals in Clydebank and Grangemouth on Wednesday and Thursday, followed by activists scaling the Kelpies in Falkirk.
@Thisis_Rigged protesters spray paint a portrait of King Charles at the National Galleries of Scotland, demanding that the Scottish government oppose all new oil and gas licenses. pic.twitter.com/b5XNYnJqHS
— Rich Felgate (@richfelgate) July 26, 2023
Ben Taylor, a 28-year-old gardener from Ayrshire who took part in the action today, said: “Why does the Scottish Government think it’s acceptable to keep allowing new oil and gas projects to go ahead, without even opposing them?
"If we want a future for our young people, they need to oppose all new oil and gas licences.
"This is the most basic step they can take to secure a chance at a liveable future. Until this happens, we will continue to target the Scottish Government, forcing them to use the powers they do have to stand up for the people.”
Alongside him was Ideal, a 21-year-old teacher from Lisbon, Portugal. They said: “In Portugal, it’s 40 degrees in the shade, right now.
"We’re going through unbearable heat, and it’s only going to get worse. Scotland is the biggest oil producer in Europe (and second-biggest gas producer), and these emissions affect everyone.
"We all have a responsibility to stop them, and ensure a fair transition for oil and gas workers.”
More to follow...
