Two protesters arrested after scaling top of Empire State Building antenna

Two people are in police custody after climbing to the top of the Empire State Building on Wednesday afternoon while dressed in black and holding a pro-peace banner, the NYPD confirmed. Their charges are currently pending.

“Two unknown individuals were observed on the antenna of the Empire State Building located 20 West 34 Street, within the confines of Midtown South Precinct. NYPD’s Emergency Services Unit responded,” the department said in a statement to NewsNation. “Two individuals were taken into custody without incident. There are no reported injuries. Charges are pending, and the investigation remains ongoing.”

New Yorkers watched in confusion as the man and woman, who wore masks, scaled the 1,454-foot-tall structure untethered and displayed a banner reading, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.”

It is a phrase commonly attributed to the late guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

When they reached one of the lower platforms on the building’s transmission tower, the man got on one knee in an apparent marriage proposal.

It appeared that the woman accepted and removed her mask as the pair kissed and embraced.

It is unclear how the two people gained access to the tower. Their condition is also uncertain after their lengthy descent to the ground amid New York’s heat wave, with temperatures hotter than 90 degrees.

Visitors at the building’s observation deck, including tourists visiting for the World Cup, were evacuated as the two climbed the building.

Updated at 1:41 p.m. EDT

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