Just Stop Oil climate activists arrested after defacing Charles Darwin’s grave inside Westminster Abbey

Activists have used orange paint to deface the grave of naturalist Charles Darwin at Westminster Abbey, demanding urgent action over the world’s “climate crisis”.

Two female climate activists who defaced the grave of Charles Darwin inside London’s historic Westminster Abbey on Monday have been arrested.

Vision of the duo emerged showing activist Di Bligh, 77, and her companion Alyson Lee, 66, both from Climate protest group Just Stop Oil, using orange chalk paint to scribble over Darwin’s grave inside the Abbey on Monday morning.

In an online video later shared on platform X by the activist group it showed the women kneeling on his grave, defacing it and pleading for governments “to do something about the climate crisis”.

The women – both wearing ‘Just Stop Oil’ T-shirts – were captured by awaiting photographers as they got down on their knees inside Westminster Abbey to spray the slogan ‘1.5 is dead’ over the 19th-century biologist’s grave.

While defacing the grave they demanded that the “world leaders must stop burning oil, gas and coal by 2030”.

The EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) confirmed last week that 2024 was the first time in a calendar year the world’s temperatures overtook the threshold of 1.5 degrees celcius above their pre-industrial level.

Di and Alyson took action at Charles Darwin's grave today.

Di, 77, said:
"Last year was the hottest since modern humans evolved. If we do not work together to reign in the corporations and billionaires driving us beyond our means, humanity will not be able to adapt to what is… pic.twitter.com/eo7UmStWqY

— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) January 13, 2025

London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed the two women were later arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage “with what is believed to be powdered paint at Westminster Abbey”.

In the video posted on X, Ms Lee said: “How can normal society cope when supermarket shelves are empty of food due to farmers’ crops failing”.

Darwin was a naturalist, geologist and biologist who lived from 1809 and 1882 and was well known for his contributions to evolutionary biology.

Ms Bligh said in the video on X: “Billions of refugees, California burning, the poorest people in the world suffering the most”.

Ms Lee added: “I believe Darwin would approve of my action today, we need scientists today to cut through the lies and smoke screens of the rich and powerful”.

A Westminster Abbey spokesperson said: “The Abbey’s conservators are taking immediate action to clean the memorial and do not anticipate that there will be any permanent damage”.

The Abbey remained open on Monday to visitors including worshippers.

Originally published as Just Stop Oil climate activists arrested after defacing Charles Darwin’s grave inside Westminster Abbey