Two Arrested After Climbing Empire State Building Antenna, Displaying Peace Banner
Two individuals have been arrested after climbing the antenna of New York City’s iconic Empire State Building and displaying a banner promoting peace before safely descending from the towering structure.
The incident occurred on Wednesday and attracted widespread attention after news helicopters captured dramatic aerial footage of the pair perched high above Manhattan.
According to reports, the two climbers, dressed entirely in black and wearing face masks, managed to access a narrow section near the top of the Empire State Building’s antenna, which stands approximately 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan.
While on the structure, the pair embraced, appeared to kiss, posed for photographs, and unfurled a large banner bearing the message: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”
The banner fluttered in the wind as the duo remained on the antenna for several minutes, drawing the attention of emergency responders and onlookers below.
Around 12:30 p.m., the climbers began making their way down through the metal framework toward a wider maintenance platform beneath the antenna.
During the descent, one of the individuals appeared to place an electronic device on the platform before briefly kneeling. Moments later, the pair embraced once again, took several selfies, and one of them appeared to display what looked like a ring on the left hand, fueling speculation about a possible symbolic or personal moment during the stunt.
Law enforcement officers took both individuals into custody shortly after 1:00 p.m. without incident.
Authorities confirmed that no injuries were reported and that the situation was brought under control safely.
Officials have not yet disclosed how the pair managed to gain access to the restricted antenna area, which is located well above the Empire State Building’s public observation decks and is typically off-limits to visitors.
Management of the famous skyscraper had not released an official statement as of the time of filing this report.
The latest incident adds to a growing list of climbing events involving the Empire State Building over the years. While most previous attempts were unauthorized, actor and musician Jared Leto received official permission in 2023 to climb from the building’s 86th floor to the base of the antenna as part of promotional activities for his concert tour.
Authorities are expected to continue investigating the security breach while determining what charges the two individuals may face.
