Madrid’s Public Prosecutor requested a 21-month prison term for fifteen Scientific Rebellion activists who threw beet juice at the front of the Congress of Deputies to warn about an imminent climate crisis. The protest carried the message Red alert. Listen to the science, and was intended to attract attention to the urgency of addressing global warming, drawing support from well-known scientists across climate-related fields.
The case centers on the building housing the Public Ministry, classified as a distinctive structure. Reports indicate this Madrid landmark is listed in the city’s heritage catalog with a comprehensive Type I protection level, underscoring its cultural significance.
Crime against historical heritage
The prosecutor alleges that the activists committed a crime against historical heritage and seeks compensation from the State amounting to 2,593 euros and 714 euros from the Madrid City Council. The indictment notes that just before 10:00 in the morning on April 6, 2022, a group of fifteen people, acting in concert, gathered at Plaza de las Cortes in Madrid to join a protest linked to the emergency claims of climate change, alongside other participants, within the Congress of Deputies precinct.
The protest was supported by scientist activists, as reported by Efe.
Upon arrival, those involved were equipped with a liquid substance of organic composition that likely resulted from mixing beet juice with cocoa and possibly other ingredients. They threw this liquid in multiple areas of the main façade of the Congress of Deputies building, including the staircase, columns, portico, lion podiums, and the section of the facade connected to the main bronze door.
Economic cost of cleaning
The reddish liquid caused material damage that required an initial deep cleaning and restoration by the Madrid Municipal Cleaning Service, which used pressurized water at a cost of 713.57 euros. Afterward, the building underwent further cleaning using controlled systems, a process described as harmless to the stone and mortar. In addition, surfactants, brushes, and absorbent materials were employed to remove residual organic matter from porous surfaces, leading to a total cost of 2,592.69 euros for the Congress of Deputies’ budget related to this incident.
The case file remains open for consideration as an Asset of Cultural Interest, owing to its monument status established under ministerial orders and national heritage law. This protection aligns with the recognition of the site under legal provisions for cultural heritage assets, indicating the ongoing importance of preserving such spaces in Madrid’s historical landscape.
For further context, reports from the time documented that the protest aimed to spotlight the urgent scientific consensus on climate change and to press authorities to take decisive action to curb warming trends. The incident is frequently cited in discussions about civil action and its potential legal ramifications when environmental advocacy intersects with protected cultural sites. These perspectives are commonly explored in contemporary analyses of climate activism within major political institutions.
Notes on the protest and its motives were discussed in media outlets and academic discussions, highlighting the role of scientists in public demonstrations, the symbolic use of color and liquid substances to convey urgency, and the tensions that arise when peaceful demonstration intersects with heritage protection rules. This case continues to be a reference point in debates over how to balance environmental advocacy with the preservation of historic cityscapes.