Eco-activists poured red paint on a painting of Columbus in Madrid
At the Spanish Navy Museum in Madrid, two members of the Futuro Vegetal movement doused the painting "First Homage to Christopher Columbus" with biodegradable paint. The activists were protesting the celebration of October 12 as a "day of oppression of the indigenous peoples of Latin America" and were detained by security.
October 12 is Spanish Nation Day: the date of Columbus's first expedition in 1492, which marked the beginning of contact between Europe and the Americas and the expansion of Spanish cultural and linguistic influence beyond Iberia. Madrid traditionally hosts a military parade and air show attended by the royal family and high-ranking officials.
The incident added a controversial note to the national holiday: for some, it is a symbol of historical discovery and national identity, while for others, it is a reminder of colonialism and its consequences.
