In October 2022, many members of the public were shocked when two environmental activists threw Andy Warhol’s favorite soup muse at a Vincent van Gogh painting. New evidence now suggests that the damage was far less than initially feared and may not have warranted the harsh two-year sentence for Phoebe Plummer and the 20-month sentence for Anna Holland. Judge Christopher Hehir, who presided over the case and is known for his harsh stance on climate activism, ruled that the value of the damage was irrelevant for the jury, thus preventing its members from hearing that it only cost £435 (~$588). The activists were found guilty and received a combined three-and-a-half-year sentence. This case highlights the debate over what counts as peaceful protest versus violent crime. As museum protests continue to draw attention, debates over protest rights and proportional sentences are likely to persist. One may argue that the cases of eco-protests at museums were the canary in the coal mine for ...