Two trespassers climb to top of Empire State Building, fly banner

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: NBC News

Two trespassers climb to top of Empire State Building, fly banner

Images from NBC New York’s helicopter showed two people in dark outfits holding a black flag with white lettering. The two later appeared to be making out.

July 1, 2026, 12:37 PM EDT / Updated July 1, 2026, 12:54 PM EDT / Source: NBC New York
By Daniel Arkin and Daniel Arkin

At least two people climbed to the top of New York City’s Empire State Building on Wednesday afternoon and unfurled a banner.

The pair, who appear to be a man and a woman in dark outfits and masks, seemed to embrace and kiss at one point as NBC New York’s helicopter circled overhead.

The banner they unfurled at the top of the building’s spire read: “When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace.”


-------- Two people holding a black flag with white lettering on top of the Empire State Building in New York on Wednesday. NBC New York

It was not immediately clear how the two people ascended to the top of the building.

{snip}

Daniel Arkin
Daniel Arkin is a senior reporter at NBC News.

Daniel Arkin
Daniel Arkin is a senior reporter at NBC News.


Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-trespassers-climb-top-empire-state-building-rcna352583

[hlthe2b]

1. Well, the link might be good, but better is what was on the banner? Do you know?

Inquiring minds and all that...

[Quiet Em]

2. "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."

https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/empire-state-building-climbers/6520231/

[hlthe2b]

3. Well, it is apropos for this time, I'll give them that...

[LeftInTX]

9. It was a proposal. He got down on his hands and knees.

I guess more or less a stunt of sorts. Movie like, kinda sweet, more or less harmless, but they will get in trouble for their stunt.

It's something that everyone cheers in the movies.

[hlthe2b]

10. Ahh... Well, the judge/jury might be sympathetic...

[LeftInTX]

11. Probably...with so much other stuff going on, this seems harmless

[WmChris]

5. Jimmy Hendrix quote I think.

[WmChris]

6. Jimmy Hendrix

I'm thinking at least I've seen on t shirts.

[purr-rat beauty]

4. Sad to say...

....but I think more daring acts like this are needed to catch the public's attention and change course.

I know it sounds macabre but I fantasized of self-immolation to get juices going.

[LeftInTX]

8. It wasn't a protest. I think it was a marriage proposal. He got down on his hands and knees

[FailureToCommunicate]

7. Just saw footage of the man kneeling (lower down) and proposing to the woman.

Memorable, but...honeymoon in jail?

[Talitha]

12. IMO no harm, no foul.

I'm sure they'll be charged with something, but c'mon -
Give Peace a Chance.

[LeftInTX]

14. Reality stars

[hamsterjill]

13. They have a Netflix series.

They are "professionals" if such a thing exists.

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/general/article/angela-nikolau-and-ivan-beerkus-climb-empire-state-building-and-pull-off-death-defying-proposal-the-skywalkers-couples-stunt-explained-223207750.html

From the article:

"The couple that climbs a New York City landmark together … gets engaged.

The two masked climbers who scaled the Empire State Building on Wednesday have been identified as Ivan "Vanya" Beerkus and Angela Nikolau, stars of Netflix's 2024 documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story.

Beerkus and Nikolau were initially spotted 1,454 feet in the air atop the building's spire, prompting 911 calls to police at around 12 p.m. ET, according to NBC New York. During their death-defying escapade, the duo, dressed in black, unfurled a large pro-peace banner that read, "When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace."

After 30 minutes on the spire, Beerkus and Nikolau climbed down onto a perch, where Beerkus dropped to one knee and proposed to Nikolau. They proceeded with their descent around 10 minutes later. "

More at the link.