Nine arrested for throwing red paint at one of the lions of Congress in protest against climate inaction

A dozen members of organizations against climate change have climbed this Thursday on one of the lion sculptures of the Congress of Deputies and have sprayed with red paint both the statue and several steps of the stairs, two columns and part of the wall .

Nine of the protest participants have been arrested, according to police sources.

After the spill of paint, about thirty local police officers have moved to the Plaza de las Cortes, as well as four vans.

The police have detained and immobilized the activists and have taken them into custody.

Those arrested are nine in total and have been transferred to the Moratalaz police station.

Víctor de Santos, a member of Rebelión Científica, an environmental group that fights political inaction in the face of the climate crisis, wrapped up his colleagues from the square and later declared before the media.

“In the face of the [climate] emergency, more together than ever.

What are we going to wait for?

That is the question we ask our governments.

Listen to science and act now", De Santos has raised, who has assured that no parliamentary group has contacted them.

Members of the National Police detain some activists from the Scientific Rebellion who threw red paint at the Puerta de Los Leones del Congreso, this Thursday in Madrid.FERNANDO VILLAR (EFE)

A year ago, the same groups of activists staged another similar action, for which 15 of them are now being investigated, accused of crimes of damage and public disorder, as they have been informed today in the investigating court number 30 of Madrid, reports Efe.

If on April 6, 2022, this group of scientists and activists stained the facade of the Congress of Deputies with fake blood —a preparation of water and beetroot— to demand climate action from political leaders, on this occasion, almost a year later, He has used red paint.

More information

This is the Spanish youth of the most radical climate activism: "We are willing to go to jail"

The activist De Santos explained that on Thursday morning there had already been another previous protest promoted by these organizations at the gate of the Madrid courts, where other members had been summoned for similar previous actions.

In turn, and also as a show of support, they have planned a rally in the Plaza de las Cortes at 6:00 p.m., in front of the lions, to ask that their colleagues be exonerated of all guilt and against "the criminalization of protest environment” and the “climate emergency”.