Two climbers arrested after unauthorized Empire State Building ascent with protest banner and rooftop proposal
Angela Nikolau, 33, and Vanya Beerkus, 32, conducted an unauthorized climb of the Empire State Building's 1,454-foot exterior, reaching the summit and remaining there for approximately ten minutes before descending on Wednesday. The pair combined their stunt with dual objectives: unfurling a large protest banner and celebrating an engagement.
Their actions prompted arrest and a series of criminal charges. The incident exemplifies the tension between dramatic activism and public safety concerns surrounding unauthorized access to Manhattan's most recognisable landmarks.
- Two climbers scaled the 1,454-foot Empire State Building, displaying a protest banner and getting engaged at the summit before climbing down
- Angela Nikolau and Vanya Beerkus were arrested Wednesday and now face multiple charges related to the unauthorized stunt
- The couple spent roughly ten minutes atop the iconic building before descending
Coverage
- BBC World — Watch: Couple scale Empire State Building, get engaged and are arrested
- Daily Mail — Daredevils who scaled Empire State Building facing MULTIPLE charges after flying protest banner and sky-high proposal at 1,454 feet