Extinction Rebellion protesters busted at NYC museums

More than a dozen climate protesters were arrested after they took over the lobby of New York’s Museum of Natural History for a “die-in” next to the iconic Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton — while others hung posters at the Guggenheim.

The NYPD confirmed Monday that 13 members of the New York City chapter of Extinction Rebellion were arrested at the two museums Saturday, though it was not immediately clear how many were arrested at each stunt.

At the Museum of Natural History, protesters were pictured lying on the ground as speakers stood on the pedestal of the dinosaur skeleton to speak about the dangers of fossil fuels.

“We are here because the dinosaurs went extinct, and we might be next,” the group chanted at one point, along with, “Human pollution is causing mass extinction.”

The entrance was quickly shut to avoid regular museum-goers from seeing their stunt, protesters claimed later.

“Visitors lining up for tickets were informed they didn’t need to purchase any, allowing them to be quickly ushered into the museum and kept from hearing our message,” Extinction Rebellion NY tweeted along with a video showing a mostly empty lobby.

The protesters also said they were prevented from entering further into the museum — with police vehicles greeting them when they finally went outside.

Meanwhile at the Guggenheim, other members of the New York City chapter of Extinction Rebellion were seen being escorted by police.

It is also unclear if any protesters were charged in that protest, which saw the activists singing “We are not afraid” as police officers showed up in the lobby.

Footage from the protest at the art museum showed the activists draping signs over the banisters of the Guggenheim reading, “No artists on a dead planet” as one man decried Mayor Eric Adams’ recent budget cuts.

“This city runs entirely on fossil fuels. It will not work in the future planet unless we begin changing,” the protester said.

“Our mayor, our government is failing us. They are cutting all the things like libraries, all the things we need, so all we have left are places like this,” he continues.

“We are asking museums like this to help us, cause our government is failing.”

The protesters argue that the museums have an obligation to fight climate change

“Your duties go beyond mere preservation of heritage. You have a duty to educate and empower the public at a time when our elected leaders and media consistently fail to do so,” Extinction Rebellion said in a statement, claiming that over one-third of all animals and plant species are expected to go extinct by 2050.

“Our governments are unwilling to speak about these facts; the media is unwilling to hold them accountable; and the broader public is increasingly enraged by these omissions. 

“Where is all this anger and energy going to go?” the group asks rhetorically. 

The Post has reached out to the Museum of Natural History and the Guggenheim Museum for comment.

Extinction Rebellion has previously delayed the semifinals at the US Open, and has held other demonstrations at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Christie’s Auction House.

It describes itself online as a “global movement that uses non-violent civil disobedience in an attempt to halt mass extinction and minimize the risk of social collapse.”