Raleigh Climate Activist Convicted for Defacing Degas Exhibit in DC

Timothy Martin, a 55-year-old climate activist from Raleigh, North Carolina, was found guilty by a federal jury for vandalizing Edgar Degas' sculpture 'Little Dancer, Age Fourteen' at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. Martin and his accomplice, Johanna Smith, 54, used water bottles filled with washable paint to deface the sculpture's display case, causing an estimated $4,000 in damages. This act was part of a protest organized by the climate activist group Declare Emergency, which aimed to draw attention to the climate crisis. Smith had previously pleaded guilty and served a 60-day prison sentence. Martin's sentencing is scheduled for August 22, 2025, and he faces a maximum of ten years in prison. U.S. Attorney Edward Martin emphasized that while free speech is protected, vandalism will not be tolerated in the city.