WASHINGTON – Donald Zepeda, 35, of Maryland, and Jackson Green, 27, of Utah, were sentenced to federal prison for their February 14, 2024, attack on the U.S. Constitution at the National Archives and related acts of vandalism targeting historical exhibits in Washington, D.C. Zepeda received a 24-month sentence, while Green was sentenced to 18 months, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia announced Wednesday.
Zepeda and Green, members of the climate activist group Declare Emergency, pleaded guilty to felony destruction of property after dumping red powder on the glass case housing the U.S. Constitution, temporarily closing the National Archives. The incident caused over $58,000 in damages and led to the Rotunda’s closure for four days. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson also ordered both men to serve 24 months of supervised release, complete community service involving graffiti cleanup, and pay $58,600 in restitution. Additionally, they were banned from Washington, D.C., and all museums nationwide.
Court records revealed that the attack on the Constitution was part of an escalating pattern of criminal activity by the pair. Zepeda and Green previously vandalized other exhibits, including Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer Aged Fourteen at the National Gallery of Art and the Shaw 54th Regiment Memorial, which honors one of the first African American regiments in U.S. history. In the November 2023 defacement of the Shaw Memorial, Green painted “Honor Them” in red near the inscription of the regiment’s names, while Zepeda filmed the act.
“These actions caused significant damage to cultural and historical treasures while disrupting public access to national landmarks,” U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves said in a statement. “The sentences reflect the seriousness of their offenses and the impact of their actions on the public and our institutions.”
Zepeda and Green’s acts extended beyond property damage, including organizing traffic blockades and vandalism tied to their group’s climate protests. Zepeda played a leadership role, hosting training sessions for others involved in Declare Emergency’s criminal activities. The attacks were investigated by the FBI’s Art Crime Team with assistance from the National Archives, National Gallery of Art Police, and U.S. Park Police.