Environmental protesters hurl colored powder at Stonehenge monument: Two individuals apprehended by authorities
Protesters' antics at Stonehenge gain viral traction online. Activists, in an attention-seeking move, hurled T-shirts branded "Just Stop Oil" onto at least two of the ancient sandstone blocks and splashed them with orange-tinted cornstarch, claiming it'd disappear with the rain. Two individuals were apprehended by the police in Wiltshire County, alleged for damaging the historic site. The investigation reportedly carries on.
With Britain's surprise general election on July 4 approaching, political maneuvering is in full swing. The current Conservative Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, decried the environmental activists' disruptive demonstration at the World Heritage Site as a "despicable act of vandalism against one of the oldest and most renowned monuments in Britain and globally". He accused "Just Stop Oil" of having no shame over its protesters.
The environmental organization justified their action by explaining that they picked the day before the Solstice Festival around the Stonehenge stones for the demonstration. The opposition Labour Party, predicted to win the election according to polls, has pledged to cease issuing new oil and gas licenses. However, they believe this is not sufficient. Instead, the incoming government, faced with the "dire repercussions" of the worsening climate crisis, should legally commit to phasing out fossil fuel energy by 2030.
