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mahatmakanejeeves

(71,694 posts) Wed Jul 1, 2026, 01:00 PM Wednesday

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

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

14 replies

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Two trespassers climb to top of Empire State Building, fly banner (Original Post) mahatmakanejeeves Wednesday OP

Well, the link might be good, but better is what was on the banner? Do you know? hlthe2b Wednesday #1

"When the power of love beats the love of power, the world knows peace." Quiet Em Wednesday #2

Well, it is apropos for this time, I'll give them that... hlthe2b Wednesday #3

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

Ahh... Well, the judge/jury might be sympathetic... hlthe2b Wednesday #10

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

Jimmy Hendrix quote I think. WmChris Wednesday #5

Jimmy Hendrix WmChris Wednesday #6

Sad to say... purr-rat beauty Wednesday #4

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

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

IMO no harm, no foul. Talitha Wednesday #12

Reality stars LeftInTX Yesterday #14

They have a Netflix series. hamsterjill Wednesday #13

hlthe2b

(115,287 posts)

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

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 01:01 PM

Wednesday

Inquiring minds and all that...

Quiet Em

(3,270 posts)

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

Reply to hlthe2b (Reply #1)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 01:03 PM

Wednesday

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

hlthe2b

(115,287 posts)

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

Reply to Quiet Em (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 01:04 PM

Wednesday

LeftInTX

(35,019 posts)

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

Reply to hlthe2b (Reply #3)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 04:10 PM

Wednesday

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

(115,287 posts)

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

Reply to LeftInTX (Reply #9)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 04:14 PM

Wednesday

LeftInTX

(35,019 posts)

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

Reply to hlthe2b (Reply #10)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 04:15 PM

Wednesday

WmChris

(826 posts)

5. Jimmy Hendrix quote I think.

Reply to Quiet Em (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 03:09 PM

Wednesday

WmChris

(826 posts)

6. Jimmy Hendrix

Reply to Quiet Em (Reply #2)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 03:10 PM

Wednesday

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

purr-rat beauty

(1,694 posts)

4. Sad to say...

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 02:03 PM

Wednesday

....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

(35,019 posts)

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

Reply to purr-rat beauty (Reply #4)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 04:08 PM

Wednesday

FailureToCommunicate

(14,632 posts)

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

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 03:16 PM

Wednesday

Memorable, but...honeymoon in jail?

Talitha

(8,252 posts)

12. IMO no harm, no foul.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 06:48 PM

Wednesday

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

LeftInTX

(35,019 posts)

14. Reality stars

Reply to Talitha (Reply #12)

Thu Jul 2, 2026, 12:26 AM

Yesterday

hamsterjill

(17,982 posts)

13. They have a Netflix series.

Reply to mahatmakanejeeves (Original post)

Wed Jul 1, 2026, 11:23 PM

Wednesday

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.

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