Activists Arrested After Trying to Cover Taylor Swift's Jet in Paint
They're known for their high-profile stunts.
Taylor Swift's private jet has become a hot topic in recent months as her travel records seemingly indicated she's quite a frequent flyer. Activists with the U.K. climate advocacy group Just Stop Oil were just arrested after trying to make a statement using the pop star's aircraft.
On June 20, 22-year-old Cole Macdonald and 28-year-old Jennifer Kowalski were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with national infrastructure after getting onto the tarmac at London Stansted Airport and covering multiple private airplanes with orange powder paint. According to The Independent, they were apparently looking for Taylor Swift's jet, but per the BBC, Stansted Airport denied that her jet was ever there.
"We’re living in two worlds: One where billionaires live in luxury, able to fly in private jets away from the other, where unlivable conditions are being imposed on countless millions. Meanwhile, this system that is allowing extreme wealth to be accrued by a few, to the detriment of everyone else, is destroying the conditions necessary to support human life in a rapidly accelerating never-ending ‘cruel summer,'" Macdonald said in a statement, referencing one of Swift's hit songs. "Billionaires are not untouchable. Climate breakdown will affect every single one of us.”
Just Stop Oil is advocating that the U.K. government commit to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas, and coal by 2030. The group noted that these headline-making demonstrations—such as covering the Mona Lisa with soup—will continue as long as necessary and signaled that more protests are on the horizon.
"Until world leaders act to protect us, Just Stop Oil supporters, working with other groups internationally, will take the proportional action necessary to generate much-needed political pressure," they said in their statement on the matter. "This summer, areas of key importance to the fossil fuel economy will be declared sites of civil resistance around the world."
???? JUST STOP OIL PAINT PRIVATE JETS HOURS AFTER TAYLOR SWIFT'S LANDS
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) June 20, 2024
???? Jennifer and Cole cut the fence into the private airfield at Stansted where @taylorswift13's jet is parked, demanding an emergency treaty to end fossil fuels by 2030.
???? Donate — https://t.co/UwALfVtRmR pic.twitter.com/aORdvUuQmU
Essex police chief superintendent Simon Anslow spoke out in response to the arrests.
"I would like to reassure passengers and the wider public that we are well prepared and resourced to deal with incidents of this nature," he said in a police statement. "Almost immediately after we were made aware of this incident, which took place away from the main passenger terminal, we were on the scene. We maintain a constant presence at the airport and this presence will be heightened over the summer period."
"We have a good working relationship with Stansted Airport to ensure you can go about your travels with minimal impact," he added. "We are not anti-protest but we will always take action where criminal acts take place."
Looks like it's going to be a "Cruel Summer" indeed.