Protesters Arrested After Food Attack on Crown Jewels Display

Four protesters were arrested on March 9, 2024, after they vandalized the case housing the Imperial State Crown at the Tower of London. Members of the group Take Back Power splattered apple crumble and yellow custard on the display, which features the crown worn by King Charles III during his coronation and his address to Parliament.

The incident prompted the closure of the Crown Jewels display, a significant attraction housed within the historic fortress. According to the Metropolitan Police, the protesters were taken into custody on suspicion of criminal damage. The group advocates for a permanent citizens’ assembly and proposes a tax on extreme wealth.

Witnesses described the scene as shocking, with video footage showing the two main protesters throwing the food at the exhibit while other visitors recoiled in disbelief. Following the act, the demonstrators unfurled a banner that read, “Democracy has crumbled. Tax the rich.” This act of civil disobedience follows a growing trend of targeting valuable cultural artifacts to draw attention to political issues.

This protest mirrors previous actions, such as when climate activists were imprisoned for throwing tomato soup on the protective glass covering Vincent van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at the National Gallery in London. Such demonstrations have sparked discussions around the effectiveness and ethics of using art and historical sites as platforms for activism.

The Tower of London, once a royal palace and notorious prison where figures like Anne Boleyn and Thomas More were executed, serves as a stark backdrop for this latest protest. As debates continue over wealth inequality and political representation, the actions of Take Back Power highlight the lengths to which some groups are willing to go to make their voices heard.