Two environmental activists who sprayed chalk paint on Charles Darwin’s grave in Westminster Abbey, London, have been charged. Alyson Lee, 66, a retired teaching assistant from Derby and Di Bligh, 77, a former chief executive of Reading Council from Rode in Somerset, protested over the weekend.
Both women were taken to and held at a central London police station. After, the pair were bailed. The court is set to hear the case on 11 February.
Just Stop Oil confirmed that the two women had been charged. At around 10 a.m., the activists sprayed the gravestone with the slogan “1.5 is dead.” The slogan refers to the global effort to limit warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. The protest followed recent data confirming that 2024 was the first year on record with global average temperatures exceeding the 1.5 °C threshold by the Copernicus Climate Change Service.
Bligh said: ‘We didn’t do it because there was no hope for the world. Darwin would turn to his grave because the six mass extinctions are being ruled out now.” Immediate Response from Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey confirmed the landmark remained open for worship and visitors during the incident. The Abbey’s conservators immediately cleaned the grave, and there was no permanent damage. The police were called to the scene immediately and solved the problem. “The officers were called to check on the situation and disposed of the incident.
Climate activists have been escalating protests and high-profile incidents. The environmental group Just Stop Oil has intensified its protests in recent years, targeting cultural landmarks and artworks to highlight the urgency of the climate crisis. In a notable case last year, two activists who glued themselves to a Turner painting at the Manchester Art Gallery were acquitted in court. However, other actions have led to severe penalties and jail time. In September 2023, two protesters received prison sentences of 24 and 20 months for throwing cans of soup at Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers in London’s National Gallery. Last Autumn, two elderly women attempted to breach the protective glass encasing the historic Magna Carta at the British Library. Reverend Sue Parfitt, 82, from Bristol, and Judith Bruce, 85, from Swansea, purportedly used a hammer and chisel in their attempt, according to the Metropolitan Police. Library authorities swiftly intervened, minimising the damage to the case.
While activists argue their actions are necessary in response to the climate emergency, the incidents have sparked widespread debate about the impact of targeting cultural institutions. As the group continues its campaign, tensions remain high between activists, the public, and cultural organisations caught in the crossfire of these provocative demonstrations.
Photo: courtesy Just Stop Oil