{"id":4903,"date":"2026-07-01T18:35:09","date_gmt":"2026-07-01T18:35:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/2026\/07\/01\/two-people-who-unfold-banner-atop-empire-state-building-arrested\/"},"modified":"2026-07-01T18:35:09","modified_gmt":"2026-07-01T18:35:09","slug":"two-people-who-unfold-banner-atop-empire-state-building-arrested","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.usglobalnews.com\/?p=4903","title":{"rendered":"Two people who unfold banner atop Empire State Building arrested"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-14sl0e4\">\n<div class=\"dcr-17l77cs\">\n<figure id=\"402b6120-b316-4360-8edb-f4181599bca6\" class=\"dcr-191xnya\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t7hdmw\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Two people display a banner atop the Empire State Building\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/f0e10630b53b8ce591c37f5562dda1affdfae449\/0_0_2257_1508\/master\/2257.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310.6867523260966\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-up96pv\"><span class=\"dcr-kogzpx\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-18mnkpm\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1294qmb\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-4sl2vt\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1mfxiaj\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Two people display a banner atop the Empire State Building in the Manhattan borough of New York on 1 July 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Adam Gray\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-zwabc0\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"402b6120-b316-4360-8edb-f4181599bca6\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-1bitgpn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-1shbixy\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-qda0hp\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1e9iiy9\"><span class=\"dcr-13i4yc9\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1cipnsy\">Two people display a banner atop the Empire State Building in the Manhattan borough of New York on 1 July 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Adam Gray\/Reuters<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-ql9l8l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-6mja0y\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-l0wuod\">Two people who unfold banner atop Empire State Building arrested<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1xpojbf\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1gm5ptv\">\n<p>In apparent marriage proposal stunt, sign displaying message of peace was seen atop the New York landmark<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-x1al2c\">\n<div class=\"dcr-11gq2tx\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-1w2vkyc\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-ogvvui\">\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Two people have been arrested following an apparent marriage proposal atop the Empire State Building\u2019s spire on Wednesday, after they climbed to the very pinnacle of the iconic <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/new-york\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">New York<\/a> City landmark \u2013 well above the level open to the public.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The two people, both wearing black clothing and who appeared to be masked, also unfurled a large black banner at the top of the iconic skyscraper with the words: \u201cWhen the power of love beats the love of power the \u200cworld knows peace.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">It remained unclear how the pair made their way up the final stages of the building, which towers above midtown Manhattan at a height of 1,454ft (443 metres). Local media outlets reported a New York police department (NYPD) drone in the air, in addition to an NYPD helicopter near the scene monitoring the breathtaking stunt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Shortly after 12.30 pm, the two climbed down to a slightly lower platform on the structure that holds the antenna atop the building. One person then got down on one knee, and after what appeared to be a proposal from a man to a woman, the two people hugged and kissed.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">New York police have not confirmed any names. However, the two people appear to be Angela Nikolau and Ivan Beerkus, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/film\/article\/2024\/jul\/07\/skywalkers-a-love-story-documentary-netflix-angela-nikolau-ivan-beerkus-rooftoppers\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">two Russian \u201crooftoppers\u201d<\/a> who have conducted similar stunts in other cities including Tianjin in China and Los Angeles.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">In a story posted on Instagram and featuring a video apparently taken a the top of the skyscraper, Nikolau wrote: \u201cCurrently at the Empire State Building[,] you can watch on the city webcam.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Around 1pm ET on Wednesday, Nikolau <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/DaQhEGbjbHT\/?img_index=4\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">posted<\/a> a series of photos appearing to show her up the spire, including images of the apparent proposal and what appears to be an engagement ring on her hand.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Another photo appeared to show her hand clasped with what appeared to be Beerkus\u2019s against a backdrop of the city far below.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">Both Nikolau\u2019s and Beerkus\u2019s social media pages feature dozens of photos and videos showing the pair standing on high-rises and bridges around the world.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">The two were featured in the 2024 Netflix documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, which Netflix describes as \u201ca daredevil couple\u2019s romance reaches dizzying highs and heartbreaking lows\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">NYPD has recovered the banner, ABC <a href=\"https:\/\/abcnews.com\/US\/2-people-climb-top-empire-state-building-spire\/story?id=134379995\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">reports.<\/a> No injuries were reported and charges have yet to be announced.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\">NYPD also said that \u201cdue to police activity, expect street closures near 5th Avenue and 34th Street in Manhattan\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-1s160rg\"><em>Reuters contributed reporting<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-swayiu\"><span class=\"dcr-1xhbmzr\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-2c03t5\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-p7nd18\">\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/new-york\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">New York<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/travel\/empirestate\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">Empire State Building, New York, US<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-r721ee\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-856iwi\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-313bdz\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Two%20people%20who%20unfold%20banner%20atop%20Empire%20State%20Building%20arrested&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/jul\/01\/empire-state-building-banner-proposal?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-ncybeu\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-19bkree\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" 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