Two people have been arrested after Just Stop Oil activists sprayed orange powder paint over Stonehenge, sparking widespread condemnation. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called the act “a disgraceful act of vandalism to one of the UK’s and the world’s oldest and most important monuments.”
Dale Vince, a Labour donor and former Just Stop Oil supporter, responded to Sunak’s call for condemnation by stating, “I don’t support what JSO did today, it’s that simple. But there are far worse actions we could focus on, far more harmful ones – like pushing two million children and their families into poverty.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer also criticized the group, calling them “pathetic” and stating that those responsible “must face the full force of the law.” Members of the public attempted to intervene during the incident, with one visitor successfully wresting a spray can from a protester.
Wiltshire police confirmed the arrests and stated that inquiries are ongoing. The protest coincided with preparations for the summer solstice, attracting thousands of druids and revellers to the ancient site.
Sean Moran, a guide at Stonehenge, expressed his frustration, saying, “It was devastating. I was very angry… There’s living lichen on those stones. Biologists from around the world come to study it. Did they think of that?”
Senior druid and pagan priest King Arthur Pendragon condemned the protest, stating that such actions “alienate any sympathy” for Just Stop Oil’s cause. Pendragon, a well-known protester himself, emphasized that Stonehenge is a “living, working temple” during celebrations like the summer solstice.
Visitors from across the globe, including Paul and Elaine Anderson from Newcastle and tourists from the US, expressed their disappointment at the disruption. Despite the incident, they vowed not to let it ruin their overall experience.
Just Stop Oil issued a statement calling for urgent action to stop fossil fuel extraction and burning by 2030, claiming their protest was necessary to highlight the imminent threat of climate change.