2 arrested after dumping red powder on Constitution at National Archives

Two people dumped red powder on the encasement protecting the U.S. Constitution at the National Archives.

Two protesters dumped red powder on the encasement protecting the U.S. Constitution at the National Archives, prompting the closure of its rotunda and galleries Wednesday afternoon.

Around 2:30 p.m., two men poured red powder on themselves and the encased Constitution in the Archives' rotunda. D.C. police responded to the scene where they arrested them for destruction of federal property.

There was no damage to the Constitution.

In a video posted on X, two men covered in the red powder are standing in front of the Constitution, one of them saying, "We all deserve clean air, water, food and a livable climate."