Two climate activists affiliated with the group Declare Emergency face federal prison time following their destructive Valentine's Day protest at the National Archives in Washington.
According to Fox News, Donald Zepeda, 35, of Maryland, and Jackson Green, 27, of Utah, received sentences of 24 months and 18 months, respectively, for dumping red powder on the display case protecting the U.S. Constitution.
The Valentine's Day incident resulted in $58,600 worth of damage and forced the National Archives Rotunda to close for four days, preventing public access to the historic documents.
Both activists pleaded guilty to felony destruction of property charges, with Green facing additional charges for a separate incident involving the defacement of a Civil War memorial.
The U.S. Attorney's Office and FBI revealed the extensive impact of the protesters' actions on the National Archives facility.
The cleanup operation following the red powder attack carried a hefty price tag, exceeding $58,000 in restoration costs. The closure prevented numerous visitors, including students and D.C. residents, from accessing the historic site during the four-day cleanup period.
The court handed down significant punishments beyond prison time. Both activists must complete 24 months of supervised release and pay full restitution for the damage caused. They are required to perform community service specifically focused on graffiti removal. Additionally, they received nationwide bans from entering museums and are prohibited from visiting Washington.
The group Declare Emergency, responding to the sentencing, defended their choice of materials while acknowledging the expected severity of the punishment. On their website, they stated their position regarding the incident's impact:
Despite lack of evidence that any damage was done, both Green and Zepeda were charged with felony destruction of government property. The tempera paint powder was selected because it would do no harm, and indeed no powder entered the case.
Green's sentence took into account his prior vandalism of the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial, a monument honoring Black Civil War soldiers. This incident occurred just 13 days before the Constitution display case attack. The memorial, created by Augustus Saint-Gaudens in 1900, holds significant historical importance in commemorating African-American military service.
Declare Emergency, known for its climate activism through various criminal activities primarily in Washington D.C., used social media to explain their motivations. The group shared footage of the incident online, attempting to justify their actions as necessary civil disobedience. Their message emphasized the urgency of addressing climate change.
The organization expressed their perspective on social media following the incident, stating their position on civil disobedience. According to their post on X (formerly Twitter), they emphasized their commitment to nonviolent protest methods: "We don't want the end of civilization, but that's the path we're currently on."
Donald Zepeda and Jackson Green, members of the climate activist group Declare Emergency, received federal prison sentences for their Valentine's Day protest that involved dumping red powder on the U.S. Constitution's protective case at the National Archives. The incident caused $58,600 in damage and forced a four-day closure of the facility.
The court's decision resulted in 24 months imprisonment for Zepeda and 18 months for Green, along with supervised release, restitution payments, mandatory community service, and nationwide museum bans. Green's sentence also addressed his prior vandalism of the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial, demonstrating the court's consideration of repeat offenses against historical monuments.
