Two Just Stop Oil activists, Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21, have been released on bail after being arrested for spraying orange powder paint on Stonehenge. The incident occurred on June 19, 2024, and triggered widespread condemnation, including from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer. The action, intended to draw attention to the need for a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030, took place just before the summer solstice, a significant time for the ancient site.
Wiltshire Police charged the activists with criminal damage and damaging an ancient monument. English Heritage reported that the monument showed no visible damage after the cleanup. The organization has called for protests to be directed away from cultural heritage sites, citing unnecessary disruption and distress.