Part of the demonstration within the British Museum (BP or not BP)
Coordinated protest against the museum’s partnership with BP saw activists building a mosaic within the building’s entrance
Members of three activist groups carried out a coordinated protest within the British Museum this weekend, forcing it to temporarily close.
On Saturday, activist theatre group BP or not BP? Joined activist groups Energy Embargo for Palestine and Parents for Palestine to take over several areas of the London museum while calling for an end to its longest standing corporate support from BP.
During the protest, BP or not BP? assembled a mosaic in the museum’s main hall over the course of the day, which it said was a reference to the current ‘Legion’ exhibition about Romans.
The 1.5, square meter installation depicted Phobos, the god of fear, and included the lettering ‘Drop BP: End Oil Sponsorship’. It is the latest performance protest by the group, which has been carrying them out within the museum since 2012.
🙌 Children & families joining in with our mosaic building inside @britishmuseum
🏛️ Anyone still inside is welcome to join us & get creative while asking the museum to #DropBP pic.twitter.com/pRc9mubGXp
— BP or not BP? (@drop_BP) June 1, 2024
Energy Embargo for Palestine, a group calling for an energy embargo on Israel, and Parents for Palestine, a collective of parents and caretakers, delivered a programme of events for children in the Museum’s courtyard – including colouring and banner-making.
In March, an earlier protest by the same groups saw the museum temporarily close. A spokesperson for the museum said at the time: “The British Museum respects other people’s right to express their views and allows peaceful protest on site at the museum as long as there is no risk to the collection, staff or visitors.”
