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Climate protest closes National Archives’ Constitution display for third day

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The National Archives Museum, the keeper of America’s many valued historical documents, has been closed for three consecutive day following a protest by two climate activists. The activists, identified as Donald Zepeda and Jackson Green, targeted the U.S. Constitution display with pink powder, leading to charges of defacing and destroying federal property.

On Feb. 14, Green — a member of the Declare Emergency climate change awareness campaign — expressed their motivations.

“We’re calling for all people to have all these rights, not just wealthy white men. We all deserve clean air, water, food and a livable climate,” Green said.

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Zepeda echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the urgency of their cause.

“We don’t want our children to have to live through the end of civilization, but that’s the trend we’re currently on,” Zepeda said.

Despite the dramatic protest, officials confirmed that the historic document remains unharmed and locked away for safety. The substance thrown by the protesters was analyzed and found to be a mixture of pink pigment and cornstarch, chosen for its visibility.

The cleanup and inspection of the aftermath are estimated to cost the National Archives Department more than $15,000, according to court documents.

The National Archives has condemned the act of vandalism, working closely with federal law enforcement to hold the perpetrators accountable.

“The National Archives is working with federal law enforcement agencies to ensure the perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” the official statement read.

Following his arrest, Green told investigators of their demands for the president.

“President Joe Biden must immediately declare a formal state of climate emergency…to save the country from collapse,” Green said.

Investigations revealed that Zepeda and Green were participating in Declare Emergency’s Valentine’s week event, “Love in Action,” designed to highlight environmental concerns. The campaign has previously organized several non-violent protests across the United States.

Reports indicate that Zepeda was arrested the day before the National Archives incident during another “Love in Action” protest that caused a 6-mile traffic jam on the George Washington Memorial Parkway.

Green’s arrest record for climate activism predates this incident. Last year, he vandalized a memorial at the National Gallery of Art dedicated to a notable African American Civil War unit.

As a consequence of Wednesday’s events, Metro Police have now barred Green from entering Washington, D.C., with exceptions only for legal proceedings.

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[LAUREN TAYLOR]

IN WASHINGTON D.C., THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES MUSEUM STANDS AS KEEPER OF AMERICA’S MOST CHERISHED HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS. 

BUT FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE DAY, THE ROTUNDA REMAINS CLOSED AFTER TWO CLIMATE ACTIVISTS, ARMED WITH PINK POWDER, TARGETED THE U.S. CONSTITUTION. DONALD ZEPEDA AND JACKSON GREEN ARE NOW CHARGED WITH DEFACING AND DESTROYING FEDERAL PROPERTY.

JACKSON GREEN | CLIMATE ACTIVIST, DECLARE EMERGENCY

“We’re calling for all people to have all these rights, not just wealthy white men. We all deserve clean air, water, food, and a livable climate”

DONALD ZEPEDA | CLIMATE ACTIVIST, DECLARE EMERGENCY

“We don’t want our children to have to live through the end of civilization, but that’s the trend we’re currently on.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

THE HISTORIC DOCUMENT IS UNDAMAGED AND STILL LOCKED AWAY. ANALYSIS SHOWED THE POWDER WAS BLEND OF PINK PIGMENT AND CORNSTARCH – CHOSEN FOR ITS HIGH VISIBILITY.

COURT DOCUMENTS REVEAL THAT THE AFTERMATH OF THEIR DEMONSTRATION COULD COST THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES DEPARTMENT MORE THAN $15,000  IN CLEANING AND INSPECTION FEES.

NATIONAL ARCHIVES OFFICIALS ARE CALLING IT A DEPLORABLE ACT OF VANDALISM SAYING:

THE NATIONAL ARCHIVES MUSEUM
“The National Archives is working with federal law enforcement agencies to ensure the perpetrators are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

AFTER THE ARREST GREEN TOLD INVESTIGATORS:

JACKSON GREEN | CLIMATE ACTIVIST, DECLARE EMERGENCY

“President Joe Biden must immediately declare a formal state of climate emergency […] to save the country from collapse.”

[LAUREN TAYLOR]

INVESTIGATORS FOUND OUT THAT THE TWO WERE INVOLVED WITH “DECLARE EMERGENCY,” A CLIMATE CHANGE AWARENESS CAMPAIGN. 

THE GROUP WAS HOSTING A THREE-DAY VALENTINE’S WEEK  “LOVE IN ACTION,” AIMED AT DRAWING ATTENTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES.

DECLARE EMERGENCY  HAS BEEN A PART OF A NUMBER OF NON-VIOLENT PROTESTS IN THE STATES.

ACCORDING TO REPORTS, ZEPEDA WAS ARRESTED THE DAY BEFORE THE ARCHIVES EVENT DURING ANOTHER “LOVE IN ACTION” PROTEST THAT BLOCKED THE GEORGE WASHINGTON MEMORIAL PARKWAY CAUSING A 6-MILE TRAFFIC JAM. 

GREEN ALSO HAS A HISTORY OF CLIMATE ACTIVISM ARRESTS. LAST YEAR, HE WAS ARRESTED FOR VANDALIZING A MEMORIAL DEDICATED TO A PROMINENT AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR UNIT AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY OF ART. FOLLOWING WEDNESDAY’S INCIDENT, METRO POLICE HAVE BARRED GREEN FROM ENTERING D.C. EXCEPT FOR LEGAL MATTERS.