Protest Leads to Arrests After Paint Thrown on Barcelona's Iconic Sagrada Familia

On a day marked by activism, climate protesters decided to target the renowned Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, splashing it with red and black paint. This act was a declaration of their frustration over devastating wildfires consuming parts of Spain, as stated by the activist organization Futuro Vegetal.

Footage shared on the internet captures the moment law enforcement detained two demonstrators, whose rallying cries for 'climate justice' echoed in the air.

According to a social media statement by the activists, the protest was a rebuke of official inaction regarding the wildfires that afflicted southern Spain's Iberian Peninsula. They claimed that approximately 70% of these fires link back to livestock agriculture, referencing data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Although unable to independently validate these figures, CBS News highlighted that Spanish authorities have been actively addressing the fires and related climate challenges.

The Sagrada Familia, a masterpiece by the famed Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, stands as a prominent magnet for tourists visiting Barcelona.

Futuro Vegetal accuses the Spanish administration of failing to adequately tackle climate issues, pointing to recent catastrophic blazes that have wreaked extensive destruction across the country.

Recent infernos have resulted in the loss of four lives and damaged about 870,000 acres over the past two weeks, as per the European Forest Fire Information System. This year has seen over 280 fires engulfing nearly a million acres, a stark rise compared to the previous decade.

Labeling these fires as one of the most severe environmental disasters in recent Spanish history, the government acknowledges the role of climate change. A significant summer heatwave across Europe has exacerbated fires, not only in Spain but also in countries like Greece, France, Portugal, and Turkey.

Fortunately, the severity of the problem lessened during the weekend, with Virginia Barcones from civil protection services noting the situation was stabilizing.

Associated with international counterparts, Futuro Vegetal has orchestrated numerous protests including a notable 2022 incident where they glued themselves to historic artworks by Francisco de Goya at the Prado Museum in Madrid.

In other instances, acts of vandalism were reported involving properties tied to American billionaire Nancy Walton Laurie and former football star Lionel Messi’s mansion in Ibiza.

As of last year, Spanish authorities have apprehended 22 members from Futuro Vegetal, including those behind the Prado incident and the group’s key leaders.

Climate advocacy methods resembling those of Futuro Vegetal have appeared elsewise in Europe. In the UK, activists faced imprisonment following demonstrations such as covering artworks with paint and spraying buildings in bright colors to draw attention to climate issues.