Protestors replace Picasso's ‘Motherhood’ with image of ‘Palestinian mother’ at National Gallery
London: Two activists from the group Youth Demand replaced Pablo Picasso’s painting Motherhood at the National Gallery in London with a photograph of a Gazan mother and child, calling for a two-way arms embargo on Israel. The incident took place on Wednesday, with protesters covering the 1901 artwork with the photograph and pouring red paint on the gallery floor to symbolise bloodshed in Gaza.
The protesters were identified as 23-year-old NHS worker Jai Halai and 21-year-old politics student Monday-Malachi Rosenfeld. The photograph used, taken by Anadolu Agency’s photojournalist Ali Jadallah, depicted a mother holding her injured child after an Israeli air strike at Al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City in 2023.
Halai, explaining the motive behind the action, stated: “I’m taking action with Youth Demand because it’s been over a year of seeing my colleagues in the healthcare field decimated by bombs and bullets.” He emphasised the need for a two-way arms embargo on Israel, citing that 87 per cent of the British public support this measure, while the government continues to arm Israel.
Rosenfeld, a Jewish student at Greenwich University, also condemned the situation, asserting, “As a Jew, I feel it’s my duty to call out the genocide being committed in Gaza. This is not being done in the Jewish name. When Keir Starmer says Britain stands with Israel, he’s wrong. We know very well this is not self-defence—this is genocide.”
A spokesperson for Youth Demand reiterated the group’s position, condemning the UK government for allegedly arming Israel to carry out genocide against Palestinians. The group vowed to continue resisting until justice is achieved.
The ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas has led to thousands of casualties, mostly women and children, with widespread displacement in Gaza due to the continued blockade, which has caused severe shortages of basic necessities. Israel currently faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice for its actions in Gaza.
Protester covers Picasso's 'Motherhood' with an image of a Palestinian mother and child in a powerful act of protest. pic.twitter.com/ROV7woS8tW
— PALESTINE ONLINE 🇵🇸 (@OnlinePalEng) October 9, 2024
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BJP's main agenda is to keep minorities in fear, alleges Stalin
Chennai (PTI): DMK President M K Stalin has alleged that the BJP's main agenda is to keep the minorities in fear, and everyone is aware of what is happening in the states governed by the saffron party.
Stalin further alleged that Muslims continued to be subjected to attacks.
"Now, a situation has arisen where even Christmas could not be celebrated peacefully. Christians are being targeted. The entire country is a witness to what is happening in Manipur. The BJP's plan of action is that a state of insecurity for minorities should spread like a wildfire across the country," he told PTI in an interview.
That was why it first enacted the CAA, and the next was an amendment to the Waqf law, and now it is "desperate" to amend the FCRA, he alleged, and lashed out at AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.
"Palaniswami, who supports all these three amendments and has formed an alliance with the BJP, does not have any concern for the welfare of minorities. However, the DMK is always firm in its commitment to ensure that India must always be a secular state; that people belonging to all religions must be equally respected and that the Constitutional safeguards conferred on minorities must be upheld. If any of these is threatened, the DMK will be the first party to raise its voice against it," he said.
Denying that the BJP made the minorities feel insecure, BJP state vice president M Chakravarthy said the chief minister was making the allegation due to the "fear that the Christian and Dalit votes would go to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam led by actor-politician Vijay."
He was depicting the BJP as a bogeyman in an attempt to create unnecessary apprehension among the minorities, the BJP leader told PTI.
On FCRA, Chakravarthy asked, "What's wrong with ensuring accountability in the use of funds?"
