US EditionJust Stop Oil activists who sprayed Stonehenge with orange powder cleared following trial
Three activists were acquitted after a 10-day trial for spraying Stonehenge with orange powder to protest fossil fuels, citing human rights protections for freedom of speech and protest.
- On Friday, at Salisbury Crown Court, three Just Stop Oil activists—Rajan Naidu, Niamh Lynch, and Luke Watson—were cleared of criminal damage and public nuisance after a 10-day trial with six hours of jury deliberation.
- Just Stop Oil activists targeted Stonehenge the day before last year’s Summer Solstice, spraying orange powder with colour blasters filled with cornflour, talc and dye.
- They denied charges, citing Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and said the stones were cleaned after crossing boundary ropes and launching the spray, with costs of 620.
- Highlighting legal principles, the judge said the jury must balance law and rights, noting freedom of speech and freedom to protest can justify otherwise unlawful acts.
- Stonehenge is widely recognised and built around 5,000 years ago, visited globally for education and spiritual experiences, while about 15,000 people were due to gather there last year.
33 Articles
33 Articles
Three activists who defaced Stonehenge last year will not face prosecution. A British jury ruled that the protest against oil falls under freedom of speech. The three protesters, aged 74, 36, and 23, sprayed the Stone Age tourist attraction with colored powder last year. They did so to protest against fossil fuels, the day before thousands of people gathered there to celebrate the summer solstice. The activist group Just Stop Oil frequently defa…
UK Court Court Clears Stonehenge Protesters of Vandalism
Three protesters were cleared by a UK court of charges arising from a protest at Stonehenge in which the prehistoric stone circle was sprayed with orange powder. The activists from Just Stop Oil had admitted to taking part in the protest, but cited their right to freedoms of speech and protest under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Salisbury Crown Court in southern England found 74-year-old Rajan Naidu, 23-year-old …
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