Protesters gathered at MoMA today, demanding Leon Black's removal from the board due to his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
Over two dozen people assembled down the street from the Museum of Modern Art today, October 6, calling for the removal of disgraced billionaire Leon Black from the museum board. The demonstration centered on Black's documented ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, alongside multiple rape allegations he denies, none of which have resulted in a conviction.
Among those in attendance were members of the feminist campaign We Are UltraViolet and its Epstein Accountability Project, the research initiative Time & Memory Project, and the mobile Epstein-Trump Reading Room, created by the Institute for Primary Facts. These groups collectively asserted that MoMA's continued association with Black contributes to the sanitization of his public image.
The protesters' message highlighted concerns that the Museum of Modern Art, by retaining Black on its board, is inadvertently assisting in the rehabilitation of his reputation. This ongoing scrutiny underscores a broader conversation within the arts community regarding accountability for individuals with controversial associations holding influential positions in cultural institutions.
The demonstration signals that calls for Black's removal from the MoMA board are unlikely to subside, despite any expectations from the museum's leadership. Activists continue to press for transparency and ethical governance within major cultural organizations, ensuring that such institutions uphold their public trust.
