A US archivist says the bizarre attacks on the Constitution and Declaration of Independence that took place in Washington DC earlier this year were the result of an “emotional buzzsaw” that led her to push for the perpetrators to receive the “maximum punishment possible”. It was something like that.
Colleen Shogan, who also serves as director of the National Archives and Records Administration, said: spoke before a federal judge in court on Tuesday. Judgment against carrier climate change protester who, along with his partner, helped paint red paint on display cases housing historical documents.
Shogan said in his speech that the Valentine's Day incident was a deliberate attack on “the common past and beliefs that unite us as Americans.”
“These documents are the physical embodiment of our nation's core principles and symbolize what it means to be an American. It was an emotional impact for many of our employees,” she said of the crime. Written by Jackson Greene and Donald Zepeda. “It felt like a family member had been attacked.”
Greene and Zepeda entered the rotunda of the National Archives in Washington, D.C., and daubed the box protecting the founding documents with red paint and non-toxic pink powder.
“These documents are the physical embodiment of our nation's core principles and symbolize what it means to be American,” Shogan testified.
The Bill of Rights, which was kept in the same space, was not targeted.
Shogun told U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson that the “very fine paint” that covered the constitutional lawsuit “could spread throughout the Rotunda, staining and permanently damaging the historic marble.” .
“To complicate matters, the powder penetrates the protective layer provided by the exterior cladding, getting in between the intricately cast bronze details and the layers of glass that serve as the Constitution's first line of defense. That’s what I was doing,” she said. continued.
The Rotunda was closed to the public for four days. The attack caused more than $50,000 in damage.
Mr. Shogan said the two original founding documents were “the very definition of precious” and urged the judge to impose the harshest possible punishment.
“It is clear to all that attacking the envelope of the United States Constitution in the National Archives Rotunda is not the same as physically or symbolically destroying the wall of a public park or office building. There has to be,” Shogan said.
“As Americans, we have the right to free speech, but that does not exempt us from the consequences of our actions. And if we choose to attack our nation's fundamental record, The consequences should be significant.”
He said climate protests targeting “museums and unique treasures of cultural history that we trust for our nation” are not victimless misdemeanors.
“It is essential not only for the National Archives, but for all cultural institutions across the country, to clearly establish the importance of these crimes and send a strong message to deter future attacks,” she said. Ta. “With all due respect, we ask that you consider the highest possible penalties for these crimes. Anything less undermines the rule of law, our system of government, and its peaceful continuation.” It sends the wrong message to the American people about the principles we hold.”
leader of zepeda Declaration of emergencywas arrested along with Green, and both were charged with felony destruction of government property.
Green, a Utah native, was sentenced Tuesday to 18 months in prison. On Friday, Zepeda, who lives in Maryland, was sentenced to two years in prison. Both men recently accepted plea deals from prosecutors.
