Just Stop Oil Activists Acquitted in Stonehenge Orange Powder Case

Three climate activists from Just Stop Oil have been cleared of all charges related to their controversial protest at Stonehenge, where they sprayed orange powder on the ancient stone circle just one day before the 2024 summer solstice.

The defendants—74-year-old Rajan Naidu, 23-year-old Niamh Lynch, and 36-year-old Luke Watson—successfully argued in court that their dramatic demonstration was justified due to the urgent nature of the climate emergency. The protest, which took place at one of Britain’s most iconic prehistoric monuments, drew significant media attention and sparked heated debate about the intersection of climate activism and cultural heritage protection.

The timing of the protest was particularly significant, occurring on the eve of the summer solstice when thousands of visitors typically gather at the 5,000-year-old stone circle to mark the longest day of the year. The activists’ choice to target such a culturally significant site highlighted their argument that protecting ancient heritage sites becomes meaningless if climate change threatens civilization itself.

This acquittal represents a notable legal victory for the climate activism movement and raises important questions about the balance between protecting cultural landmarks and drawing attention to environmental crises. The case also reflects growing tensions between traditional approaches to heritage conservation and urgent calls for climate action. Just Stop Oil, known for its high-profile protests at museums, sporting events, and historic sites, continues to use civil disobedience to demand immediate action on fossil fuel dependency and climate change mitigation.