Breaking news from the world of climate change activism, 16 climate protesters have been arrested at a protest against KKR, held at the esteemed Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).
This significant event dials up the urgency and demands attention from every concerned citizen.
The protests, organised by a group of determined climate activists, sought to raise awareness about KKR’s involvement in the controversial Coastal GasLink pipeline project.
However, the peaceful protest took a dramatic turn when 16 climate campaigners were detained by police.
The courage and commitment displayed by these protesters, despite the subsequent arrest, sends a potent message. Irrespective of the consequences, the resolve to take action against climate change remains strong.’
But, before diving into the critical details of this incident, let’s take a step back to dissect the key players involved.
- MoMA: More than just a museum, the MoMA has been a platform for artistic and political expression, where many protests have been held.
- KKR: KKR is a multinational private equity firm, currently under fire for their investment in the divisive Coastal GasLink pipeline.
- Coastal GasLink Pipeline Project: This potentially damaging project involves constructing a 670-kilometer pipeline to carry liquefied gas across British Columbia, Canada – a project that faces stiff resistance from environmentalists and indigenous groups alike.
Now that we’ve laid down the context, let’s navigate through the unfolding events of the protest and its subsequent implications on the climate change movement.
Climate activists staged a protest at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York City on September 15, 2023, to condemn MoMA’s ties to private equity firm Kohlberg Kravis Roberts (KKR), which has invested heavily in fossil fuel projects.
The activists were among approximately 50 demonstrators, including members of the Wet’suwet’en First Nation in Canada, who have been threatened by the construction of the Coastal Gaslink Pipeline, which is partially funded by KKR.
Henry Kravis, co-founder of KKR, is the husband of MoMA Board Chair Marie-Josée Kravis, who has donated tens of millions of dollars to the museum, which named its fourth-floor performance space after them. The protesters demanded that MoMA cut ties with the Kravises and KKR.
The protesters blocked the institution’s ticketed entrances, and MoMA closed its lobby for over two hours. The police arrested 16 protesters for trespassing at approximately 9:35 pm.
The protest included leaders and members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation in Canada, who live on territory threatened by the construction of the Coastal Gaslink pipeline.
The demonstration is part of a string of climate actions in New York that started at BlackRock on September 13, 2023, in advance of Climate Week in the city.
The activists’ action at MoMA was the second climate action in recent months. In early June 2023, a group of activists crashed the museum’s annual benefit gala, demanding Kravis’s resignation.
The protesters included activists from a range of climate activism groups, including Extinction Rebellion, the Climate Organizing Hub, and Honor the Earth.
The Kravises have been criticized for their ties to the fossil fuel industry. KKR has invested in fossil fuel projects, and the Coastal Gaslink pipeline has been controversial due to its impact on the environment and indigenous communities. The protesters demanded that MoMA cut ties with the Kravises and KKR and invest in sustainable energy transition instead.
The protest at MoMA is part of a growing movement of climate defenders who are calling for sustainable organization and a sustainable energy transition.
The protesters are demanding that MoMA drop KKR and invest in sustainability. The protest is also part of a larger movement of environmental activists who are calling for an end to ecocide and the fossil fuel industry’s influence on climate change.
The protesters’ demands for sustainable organization and investment in sustainable energy transition reflect a growing concern for the environment and the future of our planet.
