JK Rowling mocks Just Stop Oil protesters who spray painted Stonehenge

JK Rowling ridiculed Just Stop Oil protesters after they covered the ancient ruins of Stonehenge with orange cornmeal spray.

Climate activists vandalized the stones on Wednesday (June 19) and demanded that the next government sign a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.

Video footage of the incident shows two people wearing Just Stop Oil t-shirts, named by the group as Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21, running towards the old structure with what appear to be recycled fire extinguishers filled with orange paint. .

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“Let’s not target anyone or anything responsible for climate change. Let’s attack a unique ancient monument that everyone is extremely attached to, thereby endangering a rare lichen that only grows there,” she added in a response to his post.

This vandalism incident comes just before the summer solstice on Thursday, which is the longest day of the year and therefore a spiritually significant day and site for pagans and druids. The stones are considered an epicenter of special energy and thousands of people are expected to visit the site to celebrate the solstice.

Around 8,000 people gathered at Stonehenge during the 2023 solstice, and similar numbers are expected this year.

Lynch, an Oxford student, said: “Stonehenge at the solstice is a celebration of the natural world – but look what state it’s in! We all have the right to live without suffering, but the continued burning of oil, coal and gas is causing death and suffering on an unprecedented scale.

“It is time for us to reflect on what our civilization will leave behind: what is our legacy? Staying inert for generations works well for stones – not for climate policy.

Just Stop Oil said in a statement that the substance used to douse the stones was washable orange cornmeal.

A Just Stop Oil spokesperson said: “If we fail to commit to defending our communities, Just Stop Oil supporters, as well as the citizens of Austria, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands and Switzerland, will join the resistance this summer, if their own governments do not do so. take meaningful action.

“Stone circles can be found in all parts of Europe, showing how we have always cooperated across vast distances – we are building on this heritage. »

“Either we end the age of fossil fuels or the age of fossil fuels will end us,” Naidu said in quotes provided by Just Stop Oil.

“The orange cornmeal we used to create an eye-catching spectacle will soon be washed away by the rain, but the urgent need for effective government action to mitigate the catastrophic consequences of the climate and ecological crisis will not go away. Sign the treaty!

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Keir Starmer, as well as Oasis star Liam Gallagher, condemned the protest.

Sunak said the campaign group should be “ashamed of their campaigners”, while Starmer added: “The damage to Stonehenge is scandalous. Just Stop Oil is pathetic. Those responsible must face the full force of the law.

Gallagher posted a warning on social media: “Don’t mess with the stones, they have mystical powers. I hope they all wake up and they’re all orange toads.

The two activists were arrested by Wiltshire Police “on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument”.

Stonehenge remains open to the public.

English Heritage said experts were assessing the “extent of the damage” to the stones, which they described as perhaps the most famous prehistoric monument in the world.

A spokesperson said: “Orange powder paint was thrown at a number of stones at Stonehenge. This is obviously extremely upsetting and our conservationists are investigating the extent of the damage. Stonehenge remains open to the public.