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 protest 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, about 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,” temporarily closing the gallery.
The 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 protests also reflect a broader trend of activists targeting high-profile artworks to draw attention to political and ecological causes, raising questions about the balance between free expression and the protection of cultural heritage. The dual actions on the same day underscore how art spaces have become arenas for social and political protest.