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Rock star Liam Gallagher has expressed his dissatisfaction with protesters who painted the ancient ruins of Stonehenge with orange paint.
Climate activists joined the action on Wednesday (June 19) as they called on the next government to sign a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.
Video footage of the protest shows two people wearing Just Stop Oil T-shirts, identified by the group as Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21, running towards the old building with cans of orange powder paint.
The former Oasis star took to social media to share these thoughts on the disfigurement as he warned: “Don’t mess with the stone man, they have mysterious powers. I hope they all wake up and they’re all orange frogs.”
The event comes ahead of the summer solstice on Thursday (June 20), which is the longest day of the year and traditionally a period of spiritual significance at the site. The stones are a center of special energy visited by priests and pagans. Thousands were expected to descend on the site to celebrate the event.
Lynch, a student from Oxford, said: “The purpose of Stonehenge at the solstice is to celebrate the natural world – but look at the state it is in! We all have the right to live lives free from suffering, but the continued burning of oil, coal and gas leads to death and suffering on a massive scale.” Unmatched.
“It is time for us to think about what our civilization will leave behind us – what is our legacy? Staying inactive for generations works well with stones – not climate policy.”
Gallagher was joined by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Labor leader Keir Starmer in condemning the protest.
Sunak said the campaign group should be “ashamed of its activists”, while Starmer added: “The damage to Stonehenge is outrageous. Merely stopping the oil is pathetic. Those responsible must face the full force of the law.”
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Wiltshire Police said officers attended the scene and arrested two people.
Gallagher is currently on a solo tour around the UK to celebrate the 30th anniversary of his band’s debut album, Definitely possible.
His comments come amid mounting rumors about a band reunion.