A listed university building has been vandalised with orange paint as part of a Just Stop Oil protest.
The Grade II* listed University of Sussex library building, which is usually open 24 hours a day, will close overnight from 6pm tonight until 8am tomorrow morning, to allow for cleaning after the protest.
The university says that it is “disappointed” at the vandalism and that it does not accept funding from oil and gas companies.
A video of a protester, named by Just Stop Oil as Oscar Denman-Gould, was shared earlier today showing a fire extinguisher used to paint the building.
Just Stop Oil protestors vandalise the University of Sussex library. #JustStopOil @BBCNews @SkyNews pic.twitter.com/JM5cSbJU17
— Clint Diaz (@qprclintdiaz) October 11, 2023
Just Stop Oil says its supporters have painted five universities today, including University College London, Birmingham, Sussex, Falmouth and Exeter Universities.
A University of Sussex spokesperson said: “Today, a small number of people took part in a Just Stop Oil protest on campus.
“We support the right to protest, providing it is carried out respectfully and within the law.
“We’re disappointed that today’s protest resulted in vandalism of a university building.
“We take the climate crisis seriously. The University does not accept funding from oil and gas companies and, earlier this year, we joined a coalition of universities urging the asset management industry to halt support for fossil fuels.
“We actively seek to partner with organisations that share our environmental values and are fully committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2035.”
A statement from Just Stop Oil says: “Five student Just Stop Oil supporters have painted buildings belonging to University College London, Birmingham, Sussex, Falmouth and Exeter Universities.
“They are demanding the UK Government immediately halt planned new oil and gas projects and are calling on students and faculty staff to march with Just Stop Oil in London this November.”
Performative nonsense from pampered narcissists.
“We support the right to protest, providing it is carried out respectfully and within the law.
So do they call that carrying it out “respectively” and “within the law”? Since these idiots can be identified, they should be prosecuted, heavily fined, and made to clean up the mess they have been making with their vandalism. And if they are students at any university, they should be expelled immediately and be made to pay back their grants.
Students haven’t got grants for over a decade. If it’s not clear, I’m pretty sure the University is one of the most environmentally aware organisations in the UK, which makes the stupidity of the proteaters even more pointed.
I absolutely agree that they should be prosecuted fully but nit that they should be removed from an education programme they clearly need.
With a double barrelled name, I expect he lives in Dyke Road Avenue, mummy probably dropped him off in the spare Range Rover…
As clueless about this protestor as you probably are about the cause!
Proof that not all publicity is good publicity.
Doesn’t paint have oil in. More so the stuff they paint fire extinguishers with 🤔
The fact these wallies have plenty of time to pose for photographs in their Tshirts outside their vandalism suggests that art galleries and other places are complicit in their activities.
Where was University Security while one of their listed Sir Basil Specil buildings was being vandalised?
What was the purpose? These people are just going to turn everyone off their cause through their criminal activities.
No it doesn’t, what a nonsensical statement.
Poor little rich boy syndrome
‘Just stop oil’ – ok, so how do we get plastics needed for medical devices used in hospitals.
These stupid, immature children don’t think things through properly.
Yes yes, quite so…
It’s hard to quantify but the best I can up with is this is like the US trying to win the Vietnam war by carpet bombing Saigon!
I’m currently teaching my granddaughter (3) that we don’t make ‘demands’ and we certainly don’t make a mess to try to get attention.
Another absolute moron. These radical lefties are complete idiots. The authorities should round him up, severely punish him with jail time for the criminal damage after he is compelled into community service to clean up this mess.
You STUPID Boy, Pike!