LONDON: Climate activists from the group Just Stop Oil vandalized Charles Darwin’s grave at Westminster Abbey on January 13, 2025.
As reported, the two activists, identified as Alyson Lee, 66, and Di Bligh, 77, entered the historic site and used spray chalk to inscribe the phrase “1.5 is dead” on the white marble gravestone. This message references the alarming news that global temperatures in 2024 exceeded the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels for the first time.
The activists explained their motivations, stating that they aimed to highlight the urgent climate crisis and the ongoing sixth mass extinction. They expressed concern that Darwin would be “turning in his grave” due to the current environmental situation.
Following the incident, both women were arrested by the Metropolitan Police on suspicion of criminal damage and were taken into custody.
Westminster Abbey’s representatives confirmed that they are taking immediate action to clean the memorial and do not anticipate any permanent damage.
The Abbey remains open to visitors despite the incident. Just Stop Oil has previously engaged in various high-profile protests to draw attention to climate change issues.