Two folks have been arrested after Simply Cease Oil activists sprayed orange powder paint over Stonehenge.
Rishi Sunak condemned the motion, saying: “This can be a disgraceful act of vandalism to one of many UK’s and the world’s oldest and most necessary monuments.”
Dale Vince, the Labour donor and previous backer of Simply Cease Oil (JSO), responded to a remark by Sunak {that a} “sure Labour celebration donor” ought to condemn the motion by saying: “Since Rishi Sunak has requested me personally to remark, I’ll. I don’t help what JSO did as we speak, it’s that easy. However there are far worse actions we might concentrate on, way more dangerous ones – like pushing two million kids and their households into poverty.”
The Labour chief, Keir Starmer, stated the group was “pathetic”. “These accountable should face the complete power of the legislation,” he stated.
Members of the general public tried to cease the spraying and a customer managed to wrestle a twig can from one of many protesters.
Wiltshire police stated: “We’ve got arrested two folks following an incident at Stonehenge this afternoon. At round midday, we responded to a report that orange paint had been sprayed on among the stones by two suspects. Officers attended the scene and arrested two folks on suspicion of damaging the traditional monument. Our inquiries are ongoing.”
The protest got here as hundreds of druids and revellers ready to journey to the monument for the summer time solstice.
Sean Moran, a information, stated: “It was devastating. I used to be very offended. We had been having a good time and having fun with it when it occurred. There’s dwelling lichen on these stones. Biologists from all over the world [come] to check it … Did they consider that?”
A senior druid and pagan priest, King Arthur Pendragon, stated he “completely” disapproved of the Simply Cease Oil protest and that the group’s actions “alienate any sympathy” for his or her trigger.
Pendragon, who’s standing as an impartial parliamentary candidate for the world, stated: “Stonehenge is a dwelling, working temple at instances of celebration and pilgrimage such because the summer time solstice and, as a widely known protester myself, I completely disapprove of such behaviour as demonstrated by these folks, who do nothing to reinforce and the whole lot to alienate any sympathy anybody has or had for his or her trigger.”
The priest has beforehand been concerned in a number of protests on the monument and misplaced a authorized problem over a £15 automobile parking cost on the website in 2017, claiming the charge breached his human rights.
Paul Anderson, who was visiting the stones from Newcastle upon Tyne, stated: “We had been across the different aspect and we noticed a number of orange mist. I can’t see how that’s good publicity, doing one thing like that to an historic monument. Coming from Newcastle, after the Sycamore Hole tree was felled, it beggars perception.”
His spouse, Elaine Anderson, stated: “It’s ruined the day, however not the vacation. I’m not going to allow them to. How dare you? It’s the very last thing you’d count on.”
Mike and Julie, who didn’t want to give their surnames and had come from the west coast of the US to go to Stonehenge, stated it was a disgrace the trail across the stones was closed after the incident. Mike stated: “They’re ruining it for individuals who have come from the world over to have their second and see it.”
In an announcement, JSO stated it was time for “megalithic motion” and known as for the subsequent UK authorities to agree a plan to cease the extraction and burning of oil, fuel and coal by 2030.
It stated: “Persevering with to burn coal, oil and fuel will end result within the demise of hundreds of thousands. We’ve got to return collectively to defend humanity, or we danger the whole lot. That’s why Simply Cease Oil is demanding that our subsequent authorities signal as much as a legally binding treaty to part out fossil fuels by 2030.”