Climbers Scale Empire State Building to Display Peace Banner

Mon Sep 14 2026 13:14:34 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Two people ascended the Empire State Building’s top and unfurled a love‑over‑power banner, sparking curiosity about their climb.

A pair of individuals crept to the summit of New York’s iconic skyscraper and unfurled a banner proclaiming "When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace." The video shows their ascent and the final message, but police officials are unclear on how they accessed the transmitter tower. The incident raises questions about the building’s security protocols and the motives behind the stunt.

Climbers Scale Empire State Building to Display Peace Banner

Two people – whether a duo of friends or fellow climbers – seized the world’s most famous skyline tower, unfurling a banner that reads, “When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.” Their climb ended at the radio and television transmission tower, the very highest point of the 1,454‑foot Empire State Building.

The footage, posted by a BBC user, shows them ascending the building’s spire in what appears to be a well‑planned operation; no police or building staff are visible in the video. Officials have yet to explain how the climbers accessed the restricted tower area, and some analysts speculate that the stunt was designed to draw attention to the city’s iconic landmark.

Wide‑area surveillance footage captured the climbers before and after they removed the banner, but neither the video nor accompanying headlines identified the individuals or their motives. Police investigators have reportedly opened a case to determine whether the climb violated city ordinances or required a permit.