Stonehenge Vandalized with Orange Paint by Climate Activists

Protesters from the climate activist group Just Stop Oil vandalized the historic monument Stonehenge in the United Kingdom on Wednesday, spray-painting parts of the megalith with orange powder paint. The group shared a video on social media showing two of their supporters committing the act around noon local time.

Just Stop Oil explained their actions, demanding that the incoming UK government work with other nations to devise a fair plan to end the extraction and burning of fossil fuels by 2030.

“They are demanding that the incoming UK government commit to working with other governments to agree an equitable plan to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030,” the group stated.

In the video, other individuals can be seen intervening, taking away the fire extinguishers used to spray the paint. The clip has garnered millions of views on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the widespread attention and outrage the incident has caused.

Wiltshire police reported that they arrested two individuals in connection with the vandalism.

“At around noon, we responded to a report that orange paint had been sprayed on some of the stones by two suspects,” Wiltshire police said. “Officers attended the scene and arrested two people on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument.”

The arrested individuals were identified by Just Stop Oil as a 21-year-old student from Oxford and a 73-year-old from Birmingham. The protest took place one day before the summer solstice, an event that typically draws thousands of visitors to Stonehenge.

English Heritage, the charity responsible for the care of Stonehenge, expressed their dismay over the incident.

“Orange powdered paint has been thrown at a number of the stones at Stonehenge. Obviously, this is extremely upsetting and our curators are investigating the extent of the damage,” an English Heritage account tweeted. “More updates to follow but the site remains open.”

Just Stop Oil claimed that the orange powder paint was made of cornflour and should wash away in the rain. BBC correspondent Paul Clifton, reporting from the scene, noted that experts would need to assess the stones to determine if there was any lasting damage.

This incident is part of a broader trend of climate activists targeting prominent works of art, private jets, and monuments across Europe. These acts of vandalism have sparked significant controversy and debate over the tactics used by climate advocacy groups.

The vandalism at Stonehenge drew condemnation from public officials, including U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

“Just Stop Oil are a disgrace,” Sunak said on X.

As the investigation continues, the public remains divided on the methods employed by climate activists to draw attention to their cause, balancing the urgency of climate action against the respect and preservation of historical and cultural sites.

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