Extinction Rebellion protesters hurl tomato soup at Blackstone CEO’s apartment where Jackie O lived
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Eight climate protesters were arrested after they threw tomato soup at Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman’s apartment building, where Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis grew up.
The eco-activists used tomato soup to cover the front of 740 Park Avenue – where John D. Rockefeller Jr. as a former resident stands – to demolish, as they chanted ‘billionaires must go’.
Protesters from New York Communities for Change, Sunrise NYC, Extinction Rebellion and more gathered in front of Schwarzman’s home around 11 a.m., WCBS reported.
Two female members of the group were filmed blocking access to the Upper East Side building.
The protest was one of seven scheduled for this week targeting financiers promoting climate change.
They called on Governor Kathy Hochul to tax the wealthiest New Yorkers to fund climate policy under a Green New Deal.
“If we tax the rich, we may not have to eat them,” a sign read at the protesters’ sham party.
Eco-fighters banded arms to the floor and blocked the entrance to Schwarzman’s Manhattan home
Protesters chanted ‘Stephen Schwarzman judgment’ and threw tomato soup on facade of Upper East Side apartment building
‘Tax the rich and maybe we won’t eat them’: Protesters from various climate groups gathered for a mock party outside the billionaire’s building
One of eight climate activists handcuffed by police outside 740 Park Avenue, the home of Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman
Blackstone CEO Stephen Schwarzman, who warned this week that companies that go green too quickly could spark an energy crisis and global riots
Two days ago, private equity billionaire Schwarzman warned that companies that go green too quickly would spark an energy crisis and global riots. That reports CNN Business.
‘We are going to have a real energy shortage. And if you’re short, it’s going to cost more. And it’s probably going to cost a lot more,” he said.
Investment firm Blackstone is backing companies destroying the Amazon rainforest, protesters say.
Schwarzman, who is reportedly worth $28.6 billion, is also a major donor to Donald Trump and other Republicans who have worked to block climate change legislation, further angering some environmentalists.
In 2020, he gave $10 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super-PAC affiliated with Senator Mitch McConnell.
Today’s protest comes after a series of disruptive demonstrations have ravaged the UK and Europe in recent weeks.
Eco-fighters have laughed at the law during a month of chaos that has seen 585 arrests so far in the UK.
Just Stop Oil has claimed responsibility and the group is calling on the UK government to stop all new fossil fuel licenses.
Leader Roger Hallam has pushed for more extreme tactics, arguing that “nothing will happen” unless you upset the public.
The coalition of groups targeting Schwarzman today said: “Big corporations and property owners continue to take advantage of the pollution that is endangering the lives of New Yorkers.
Buildings are the main source of pollution in New York’s climate.
Climate activists estimate that just a five percent tax on the top one percent of New York earners would bring in $10 billion a year to fund a Green New Deal — funds that could be used to reduce pollution, all buildings of fossil fuels to green energy, creating thousands of union jobs and building highly affordable, energy-efficient homes for a huge number of New Yorkers.”
Other demonstrations this week in New York have centered on BlackRock and JP Morgan Chase, two more major fossil fuel backers.
740 Park Avenue (left) has been described as “the most luxurious and powerful residential building in New York City.” Famous former residents include a young Jackie O (right) and John D. Rockefeller Jr.
The antebellum building at 740 Park Avenue has been described as a “legendary address” and “the most luxurious and powerful residential building in New York City” according to Business Insider.
The residence with 31 apartments was built in 1929 by the grandfather of Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis, who lived there as a child.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate a liquid net worth of as much as $100 million and maintenance alone would set you back $10,000 per month on average.
But some big names are still said to have been rejected by the cooperative’s board, including Barbra Streisand and Russian billionaire Leo Blavatnik.
Schwarzman bought his place in the building in 2000 for about $30 million.
A young Jacqueline Bouvier grew up in the plush building after it was built by her grandfather, James T. Lee, and before she became the iconic Jackie Kennedy-Onassis after marrying doomed President John F. Kennedy and Greek shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis .
She died of cancer in 1994, after spending her final years in a Fifth Avenue apartment overlooking the Central Park Reservoir, which was later named after her.
Jackie’s mother, Janet Lee Bouvier, and her husband Jack reached the last outstanding lease – a duplex – but it is said that they did not pay for it.
Hedge fund manager David Ganek then paid $19 million for it in 2005.
In 1937, one of the first known residents was John D. Rockefeller Jr. who lived from 1874 to 1960 and was one of the largest real estate owners in the city thanks to his involvement with Rockefeller Center.
Rockefeller moved to 15/16B and this duplex is still considered New York’s crown jewel.