Banner Unfurled Atop Empire State Building: A Love Display

NEW YORK (AP) — On Wednesday, two individuals scaled the Empire State Building’s antenna to display a banner promoting ‘the power of love.’ They began their descent at midday, taking selfies and embracing before authorities apprehended them.

The pair, dressed in black and wearing masks, appeared without safety tethers. Video from a news helicopter captured them balancing on a narrow ledge, kissing atop the skyscraper’s antenna, which towers 1,454 feet above midtown Manhattan. Their banner, reading “when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace,” fluttered in the breeze.

At around 12:30 p.m., they started climbing down. They navigated the metal latticework to reach a broader ledge, where one seemed to handle electronic equipment and then got down on one knee. Another round of kisses followed, along with selfie-taking, suggesting a possible proposal. Bystanders on nearby sidewalks watched the scene unfold. Jonathan Roman, a tourist from Glasgow, remarked on the cinematic nature of the event. Despite planning to visit an observation platform, the unexpected incident provided an alternative thrill.

Questions arose among office workers about how the pair accessed such a restricted area. “I just can’t believe they made it through security,” expressed Jessica Kaplan, an employee within the building. Visitors are normally screened and barred from bringing large packages, sports gear, or masks.

The climbers were taken into custody shortly after 1 p.m. Their identities remain undisclosed. Police reported no injuries. The method of their access to the antenna, which extends beyond public spaces of the 102-story structure, is unknown. Empire State Building management did not immediately respond to inquiries.

Unauthorized climbs have occurred previously at the Empire State Building, though actor Jared Leto was given permission in 2023 to scale it as part of a promotional event.