Two climate activists have been arrested in England after spraying an orange powder on the monoliths at Stonehenge in what they said was an attempt to draw attention to the climate impacts of fossil fuels. The attack on the prehistoric site came on Wednesday as the stones would draw attention to people marking the arrival of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere.
The organization that oversees the prehistoric site of Stonehenge in England said on Thursday it had removed the bright orange dust ahead of preparations for the important day at the site.
There appears to be no visible damage to the stones, according to Nick Merriman, the chief executive of English Heritage, the charity that manages Stonehenge. But, he said in a statement, “this in no way means that there has been no harm, from the act of cleaning the stones itself to the distress caused to those for whom Stonehenge has spiritual significance.”
The dust was quickly removed for fear it could damage the rare lichen growing on the ancient stones, or that exposure to water could streak the colored dust, potentially causing permanent damage, English Heritage said.
Police in Wiltshire, England, said officers arrested two people who used fire extinguishers to spray orange powder at Stonehenge on Wednesday.
In a statement, Just Stop Oil, a British group which wants to prevent new oil and gas licences, said Stonehenge had been “decorated” with powder paint and called on the next UK government to work with other governments “to end the extraction and burning of oil, natural gas and coal by 2030”.
The location was chosen to get as much attention as possible, said Ben Larsen, a Just Stop Oil protester and supporter of the organization. “Look at what our ancestors left us 5,000 years ago: this beautiful monument,” he said in a telephone interview. “What are we leaving to our descendants?”
The summer solstice, which took place on Thursday, is the longest day of the year in the northern hemisphere, and one when most of Britain sees around 17 hours of daylight. It is also an important day in the religious calendar of the spiritual movement known as Druidry.
Every year, thousands of people flock to Stonehenge to watch the short night turn into day. It’s been a few days since the rope barriers that traditionally keep people from the nearly 5,000-year-old stones are being removed.
Adrian Rooke, a practicing Druid, said the act of vandalism was a disruption to the otherwise joyous celebrations this year. “Some people found it very personally upsetting,” Mr. Rook, 66, said in a telephone interview. “It’s a bit like someone spray painting St Paul’s Cathedral. It means so much to so many people.”
(Mr Rook added that he understood the spirit of the protest, if not the method.)
Britain’s top politicians were quick to condemn the climate protesters. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the group a “disgrace”. Keir Starmer, Labor leader and Mr Sunak’s opponent in next month’s election, called Just Stop Oil “pathetic”.
The two protesters arrested on Wednesday, a 20-year-old woman and a 70-year-old man, face charges of criminal damage, preventing a person from lawful activity and destroying an ancient monument, which could lead to up to two years in prison. They were released on bail on Thursday, according to Wiltshire Police.
Protesters and activists have periodically used the Stonehenge site for demonstrations, although few have received as much media coverage as the Just Stop Oil protest.
In recent years, the group has made headlines for vandalizing museums.
At London’s National Gallery, protesters with the group slammed hammers on Diego Velázquez’s Rokeby Venus and threw cans of tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh’s Sunflowers.
And on Thursday, Just Stop Oil also took its protests to another part of Britain, saying two other protesters had covered Taylor Swift’s private jet in orange at a London airport.
Mr Rooke said he would celebrate the solstice at a local stone circle in Somerset with a smaller group of friends, a tradition they started when Stonehenge was very busy.
At Stonehenge there is music, drums and parties, he said. “Okay, but my intention is to watch the sunrise.”
