An act intended to be a declaration of love and peace ended with a police intervention and several criminal charges for those involved. The Empire State Building made headlines again after a couple climbed the spire of the iconic building without authorization, where they unfurled a banner with a message promoting peace and surprised their partner with a marriage proposal before being arrested by New York authorities.
“When the power of love conquers the love of power, the world knows peace,” the message read.
Photo: @angela_nikolau
The incident occurred on July 1, when East Orange, New Jersey, residents Angela Nikolau, 33, and Ivan Kuznetsov, 32—both of Russian origin—reached the top of the skyscraper. The building stands 443 meters above the streets of Manhattan. Dressed in black, the couple held up a banner with the phrase advocating the triumph of love over power, while the scene was recorded for sharing on social media.
The moment gained even more attention when Kuznetsov, known online as Ivan Beerkus, seized the opportunity to propose to Nikolau. The scene combined romance, protest, and content tailored for digital platforms, although the authorities responded just a few minutes later.
Empire State Building, rooftopping y Skywalkers: A Love Story
The couple was already well-known among those who follow this type of extreme activity, as they both star in the documentary Skywalkers: A Love Story, available on Netflix. Their activities are linked to “rooftopping,” a practice that involves climbing tall buildings without authorization or protective gear in order to capture images from hard-to-reach locations.
Photo: @angela_nikolau
Following the operation, the New York Police Department confirmed the arrest of both individuals and charged them with various offenses related to trespassing, reckless conduct, property damage, unlawful entry, criminal disturbance, disorderly conduct, and possession of tools allegedly intended to facilitate the commission of a crime.
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For its part, the Empire State Building administration described the incident as an unauthorized act and assured that visitors and employees of the building were never exposed to any danger. However, the administration did not specify how the couple managed to gain access to the building’s spire.
The incident required the intervention of officers from the New York Police Department’s Emergency Services Unit, who climbed to the top of the skyscraper to intercept the two climbers. What began as a display of affection and a protest that garnered widespread attention on social media ended up becoming a legal case that once again brings to light the risks associated with this type of extreme action.
