Climate activists defile Trevi Fountain in Rome with black dye
Radical climate change activists with the far-left group Last Generation vandalized one of Italy's greatest treasures on Sunday, the Trevi Fountain in Rome.
Eight climate activists were arrested by police around 11:00 am after
dumping vegetable charcoal in the Trevi Fountain, turning the water
black, according to UPI News.
Video of the incident shows the activists waist-deep in the water
holding containers which contained diluted vegetable charcoal. Members
of the group then poured the charcoal into the famous fountain while
others held anti-climate change banners in the background.
Last Generation released a statement
defending their actions and stated that the charcoal "caused no damage
to the fountain" and was used to "symbolize the need for an end to
fossil fuels."
The Mayor of Rome
Roberto Gualtieri condemned the protest in a statement on Facebook and
said the activists severely damaged the fountain which will now have to
undergo a "complex cleanining operation that will cost a lot of work."
"This is not the right way to conduct a battle for the environment and against climate change," Gualtieri said on Facebook.
"Such gestures are
completely wrong and damaging, because they risk damaging precious
common goods such as our monuments, and force public administrations
into very expensive and environmentally impactful restoration
interventions. So they are completely counterproductive."