A Dutch activist, Olax Outis, also known as Caspar San Giorgi, climbed and defaced the statue of Winston Churchill in Parliament Square. This act involved spray-painting slogans related to Palestine and graffiti like "Zionist war criminal." The incident has led to a court case which concluded with him being found not guilty of criminal damage.
Outis vandalized the statue while wearing a red boiler suit proclaiming his support for Palestine Action. He sprayed messages such as "Free Palestine" and "Globalise the Intifada," claiming his graffiti could be easily washed off.
The cost of cleaning up the damage was substantial, estimated at nearly £12,000.
Despite being caught in the act by a heritage warden and police responding quickly, he was acquitted by a jury who accepted his defense that the paint was washable and meant to convey a political message.
Outis expressed pride in his act, stating he wanted to send a message to Parliament regarding Churchill and called him a "war criminal."
His actions and the jury's verdict received mixed reactions, with some criticizing the ruling as a failure of the legal system, while others viewed it as a form of protest that should not go unpunished.
Public figures and commentators voiced their anger and disappointment over the decision, suggesting it sets a troubling precedent for similar acts of vandalism, particularly concerning national figures.
Meanwhile, discussions regarding Churchill's legacy continue, with mentions of a broader trend of reevaluating historical figures in light of contemporary values.
The case of Olax Outis highlights ongoing tensions in society surrounding free expression, historical figures, and how they are remembered. The acquittal has sparked significant public debate regarding the limits of protest and the legal protections surrounding it, particularly when it involves acts perceived as vandalism against symbols of national pride.
https://modernity.news/2026/09/16/apparently-this-is-not-criminal-damage/
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