WorldTwo people got to the top of the Empire State Building's antenna and unfurled a banner about "the power of love" at midday Tuesday, before starting to descend, embracing, taking selfies and ultimately being arrested.Dressed in black and wearing masks, the 2 appeared to kiss atop antennaThe Associated Press · Posted: Jul 01, 2026 3:50 PM EDT | Last Updated: 42 minutes agoListen to this articleEstimated 3 minutesThe audio version of this article is generated by AI-based technology. Mispronunciations can occur. We are working with our partners to continually review and improve the results.Empire State Building climbers fly banner, appear to get engaged50 minutes ago|Duration 0:38A marriage proposal appeared to take place on a platform of the Empire State Building, several hundred metres above Midtown Manhattan on Wednesday. Earlier, the two people had climbed to the top of the building's spire to unfurl a large banner that read: 'When the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace.' They were ultimately arrested.Two people got to the top of the Empire State Building's antenna and unfurled a banner about "the power of love" midday Wednesday, before starting to descend, embracing, taking selfies and ultimately being arrested. Dressed in black and wearing masks — but not tethers, it appeared — the two balanced on a narrow ledge and appeared to kiss atop the New York skyscraper's antenna, which rises 443 metres above midtown Manhattan, news helicopter video showed. The banner, reading "when the power of love beats the love of power the world knows peace," waved in the wind.Just after 12:30 p.m., they began to climb down, efficiently picking their way along the latticework of metal to a wider ledge, where one seemed to set up a piece of electronic equipment and got down on one knee. After the two kissed again and hugged, the other person took selfies with an outstretched left hand, as if examining a ring. Police took the two climbers into custody after 1 p.m.; their names weren't immediately released. No one was injured, police said.Two people display a banner atop the Empire State Building. (Adam Gray/Reuters)'It's like being in the movies'Onlookers gaped from the sidewalks near the Art Deco highrise."It's crazy — it's like being in the movies," said Jonathan Roman, a tourist visiting from Glasgow, Scotland. He and his 15-year-old son had tickets to go up to one of the observation platforms but arrived to find the building blocked off because of the antenna activity.Still, the spectacle was "probably more exciting than going up to the viewing platform for the second time," Roman reasoned.Workers near Madison Square Garden stop and look up toward the Empire State Building as two people climb it. (Timothy A. Clary/AFP/Getty Images)'I can't believe this is actually a thing,' says man offering rat tours of New York CityOffice workers wondered how the pair managed to get to the antenna of a high-profile building where visitors are screened and told not to bring large packages, sports equipment, costumes or masks, among other items. "I just can't believe they made it through security," said Jessica Kaplan, who works at a company with offices in the building.Another look at the banner. (WABC/Reuters)It wasn't clear how the pair gained access to the antenna, which rises well above public areas of the 102-storey building.There was no immediate reply to a message from The Associated Press to the building's management.Daredevils have previously climbed the antenna and other parts of the Empire State Building. Those ascents have largely been unauthorized, but actor and musician Jared Leto was allowed to climb up to the base of the antenna from the 86th floor in 2023 to promote a tour.