Two climate protesters were arrested for spraying orange paint on the ancient Stonehenge monument in southern England, according to police. The act was carried out by Just Stop Oil and was swiftly condemned by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as a 'disgraceful act of vandalism.'
The incident occurred just before the anticipated gathering at the 4,500-year-old stone circle to celebrate the summer solstice, marking the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. English Heritage, the site's manager, expressed deep concern and stated that curators were investigating the damage. Just Stop Oil claimed on social media that the paint, made of cornstarch, would dissolve in the rain.
Wiltshire Police reported that the individuals were arrested on suspicion of damaging Stonehenge, a renowned prehistoric monument and UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stonehenge's construction began 5,000 years ago on Salisbury Plain, with the stone circle erected around 2,500 B.C. Some stones, known as bluestones, originated from southwest Wales, while the sources of others remain unknown.
Just Stop Oil is part of a larger movement in Europe that has garnered attention for protesting against climate change by disrupting events, defacing art, and causing traffic disruptions. The group's recent action was in response to the Labour Party's election manifesto, which pledges to halt issuing licenses for oil and gas exploration if elected on July 4. Just Stop Oil supports this moratorium but believes more action is necessary.
In a statement, the group urged Labour to commit to phasing out fossil fuels by 2030, emphasizing the dire consequences of continued coal, oil, and gas consumption. They warned that failure to transition to renewable energy sources would lead to catastrophic loss of life.
