Two activists from the climate group Futuro Vegetal were arrested on October 12 after throwing biodegradable red paint on José Garnelo's 1892 painting *First Tribute to Christopher Columbus* at the Naval Museum in Madrid. The act occurred on Spain's National Day, which commemorates Columbus's arrival in the Americas. The activists unfurled a banner reading 'October 12, nothing to celebrate. Ecosocial justice' and were charged with crimes against cultural heritage. Separately, 20 activists from Marea Palestina staged a sit-in around Picasso's *Guernica* at the Reina Sofía Museum, demanding an end to 'the genocide against the Palestinian people.'
This incident matters because it highlights the ongoing tension between national celebrations of colonial history and growing demands for acknowledgment of Indigenous suffering and environmental exploitation. The targeting of a historic painting at a state museum underscores how art becomes a flashpoint for broader political and social protests, raising questions about the limits of activism and the protection of cultural heritage. The simultaneous protest at the Reina Sofía Museum further illustrates the use of iconic artworks as platforms for urgent global issues.