The US Constitution’s display case at the National Archives was allegedly dumped with a “fine red powder” by two individuals, according to the Justice Department’s announcement on Friday.
A news release from the agency stated that 35-year-old Donald Zepeda and 27-year-old Jackson Green were charged with the criminal offence of destroying government property. They have not formally pleaded guilty to the accusations as of yet.
The two guys are shown in a video uploaded on X standing in front of the covered enclosure, delivering a statement about climate change. According to the prosecution, those two individuals are Green and Zepeda.
An individual yelling, “This country is founded on the conditions that all men are created equally and endowed with the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and presumed happiness,” can be seen in the footage.
Clean air, water, food, and a livable environment are universally entitled to, according to the person.
Prosecutors claim that Green and Zepeda are associated with the climate protest organisation Declare Emergency. The group’s members have participated in numerous high-profile climate change protests in recent years, including the vandalism of the National Gallery of Art in April 2023.
As part of climate protests, there has been a recent uptick in vandalism targeting historical documents and significant artwork. The “Sunflowers” painting by Vincent van Gogh was splattered with tomato soup in 2023 by the UK activist group Just Stop Oil. On Stockholm’s “The Artist’s Garden at Giverny,” activists splattered crimson paint and attached their hands to the protective glass.
The Constitution remained “unaffected in its encasement,” according to a statement released by the National Archives during the incident. The document itself was not damaged in any way. Prosecutors claim that the attack shuttered the Rotunda for four days and cost over $50,000 to clean up.
Documents from the National Gallery of Art show that Green was previously accused of painting the crimson words “HONOUR THEM” on the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial. “Stay away from the District of Columbia and stay away from all museums or public monuments.” That was one of Green’s release terms in that case.
In court records, however, prosecutors state that “Mr. Green entered the National Archives and dumped red powder on the case containing the U.S. Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights.” This information was provided just days after he was indicted.
Due to his potential threat to historical artefacts, works of art, and other government property, as well as the public’s right to visit and enjoy these valuable assets, and the safety and well-being of the employees entrusted with their preservation, a federal judge has ordered Green’s detention while he awaits trial.
In the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom on the upper level of the Archives, you may find the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, and the Bill of Rights.
