Just Stop Oil activists paint on Charles Darwin's grave at Westminster Abbey

British climate activists have vandalized the tombstone of naturalist Charles Darwin at Westminster Abbey in London. The two activists from the "Just Stop Oil" group entered Westminster Abbey, a venue for royal weddings, coronations, and funerals, as well as a major tourist attraction, on Monday morning local time and used spray chalk to graffiti Darwin's tombstone.

The activists wrote "1.5 is dead" in orange on the white marble tombstone, referring to recent news that global temperatures in 2024 have exceeded the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold above pre-industrial times for the first time. One of the activists stated, "We have crossed the 1.5-degree threshold that was supposed to keep us safe." They also argued that "Darwin would be turning in his grave if he knew we were in the midst of the sixth mass extinction."

Darwin, known for his theory of evolution by natural selection, died in 1882. He is buried in the Scientists' Corner of Westminster Abbey, where Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking are also buried. The Abbey confirmed the incident in a statement. A spokesperson said, "The Abbey’s conservation team are taking immediate action to clean the memorial, and it is not expected that there will be any permanent damage. The police have been informed and are dealing with the matter. The Abbey remains open for visitors and worship."

The Metropolitan Police of London stated that two women were arrested for allegedly causing criminal damage at Westminster Abbey and taken to a police station in central London. "Just Stop Oil" activists have conducted a series of high-profile protests in the UK, including disrupting sporting and theatrical events, graffitiing the US embassy building in London, and throwing soup at a Van Gogh painting.