Matthew Cunningham and Imogen May, activists from the Just Stop Oil (JSO) movement, are being accused of “illegal criminal damage” after filming themselves spray painting the headquarters of the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero. Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, referred to their actions as criminal damage, leaving the matter in the hands of the authorities.
Cunningham, 25, and May, 24, admitted to spraying orange paint onto the government building following the department’s issuance of over 100 new oil and gas licenses in the UK. Their protest was part of a series of actions carried out by the Just Stop Oil group on Wednesday, according to the Metropolitan Police.
The police force reported that slow-marching demonstrators were cleared from several locations, including Westminster Bridge, Victoria Street, Vauxhall Bridge Road, Marylebone, and Kensington.
In response to the incident, Grant Shapps called on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to bear the costs of repairing the damage caused to the department’s building, criticizing Starmer for failing to condemn the actions of JSO.
A video shared on Twitter by Just Stop Oil depicted the protesters using spray canisters to spread orange paint across the glass panels of the government building. In another video posted by JSO, Cunningham highlighted the concerns raised by the Climate Change Committee, stating that the government’s efforts against climate change were deemed insufficient. Imogen May criticized the department for failing in its purpose and emphasized the urgency of the climate situation.
Greg Hands, the Conservative Party chairman, labeled the demonstration as “unacceptable” and shared a picture on social media showing Westminster Bridge blocked by supporters of Just Stop Oil.
During one of the slow-marching events, a JSO protester, identified as Daniel Knorr, was assaulted. Video footage on Twitter captured the moment when a man attacked Knorr, knocking him to the ground before being pulled away by his partner. Knorr, a 21-year-old student from Oxford who was previously carried off the pitch by England cricketer Jonny Bairstow during an Ashes test match, expressed no ill will towards his attacker, acknowledging the frustration that the situation had caused.
The incident further highlights the ongoing tensions between climate activists and the government, emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue to address the urgent climate crisis.
