Headline: Over 30 Extinction Rebellion Protesters Detained as Rijksmuseum Closure Sparks Controversy
Byline: [Your Name], NL Times
Date: September 7, 2024
Lead:
Amsterdam, September 7, 2024 – In a dramatic display of civil disobedience, over 30 members of the Extinction Rebellion (XR) were arrested today after they chained themselves to the entrance of the Rijksmuseum, demanding the institution end its sponsorship deal with the ING bank, a major financier of climate change. The protest led to the temporary closure of the museum, which later reopened, causing a stir in the cultural and political circles of Amsterdam.
Body:
The XR protesters, who began their demonstration at 9:00 a.m., had chained themselves to the fence at the Rijksmuseum’s entrance, leading to the bicycle and pedestrian tunnel. They remained resolute in their demand to have their voices heard, stating that they would not leave until their demands were met. Their campaign focused on the museum’s sponsorship by ING, which they argue supports the bank’s role in exacerbating the climate crisis.
The Amsterdam police were called in to disengage the protesters from the fence, resulting in their arrest. A police spokesperson confirmed that the protesters were being moved to another location after the intervention, and added that the protesters had violated the Public Demonstrations Act by not complying with the earlier instruction to move to an alternative demonstration location on the Museumplein.
Despite the closure, the Rijksmuseum announced that it would reopen at 2:45 p.m., indicating that the protest had not significantly disrupted its operations. However, the museum’s spokesperson emphasized that the institution’s decision to reopen was made after careful consideration of the public’s interest in art and culture.
XR activists argue that the Rijksmuseum’s association with ING is incongruous, given the bank’s significant contribution to the climate crisis. According to XR, ING’s sponsorship of the museum is negligible in the grand scheme of the museum’s revenue, which stood at 123.3 million euros in 2023. The bank’s contribution is estimated at around 700,000 euros, representing less than 0.6% of the museum’s total income.
ING, however, expressed its disappointment with the XR’s actions at the Rijksmuseum, suggesting that the group should have engaged with the bank directly rather than targeting the museum. An ING spokesperson stated that the bank is open to dialogue and would welcome a direct conversation about their climate policy.
This incident has sparked a broader debate about the role of cultural institutions in the climate movement and the responsibility of businesses in supporting climate-friendly initiatives. It remains to be seen how the Rijksmuseum and ING will navigate the public relations implications of the protest and whether the XR’s demands will gain wider traction.
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