Climate activists hurl soup at the Mona Lisa painting in Paris amid farm protests

Protesters in Paris targeted the iconic Mona Lisa painting on Sunday by hurling soup at it. The painting, housed in a glass casing, remained undamaged. Those involved in the vandalism wore shirts with the name 'Riposte Alimentaire,' linking them to a climate activist group. The environmental group, Riposte Alimentaire, or 'Food Response,' claimed responsibility for the vandalism and associated it with two individuals from their campaign. This masterpiece, created by Leonardo da Vinci, is housed in the Louvre museum and is globally renowned as one of the most famous paintings, attracting millions of annual visitors who often wait in line to pose with the relatively small artwork. The incident unfolded amid ongoing protests by French farmers expressing grievances about issues such as low wages, increasing costs, and regulations. The Louvre museum temporarily evacuated the 'Salle des Etats' room, where the Mona Lisa is displayed, but later reopened it. This is not the first time the Mona Lisa has been targeted by both vandals and thieves, adding to the intrigue surrounding the enigmatic portrait.