A climate activist was detained after vandalizing the Apple store on 5th Avenue in New York City during a protest organized by Extinction Rebellion against perceived environmental negligence by major technology companies. During the demonstration held on Sunday, one protestor spray-painted the words “Boycott” and the phrase “Tim + Trump = Toxic” on the entrance of the store.
In a statement following the event, Extinction Rebellion highlighted the participation of tech CEOs at the inauguration of former President Donald Trump, citing Apple’s Tim Cook, Google’s Sundar Pichai, and Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg as attendees. The group accused these executives of deviating from their previous support for the Paris Agreement by now supporting a government that is allegedly dismantling environmental protections and promoting fossil fuel investments.
Two activists from the group made their voices heard inside the Apple store, criticizing the company’s ties to the Trump administration. One of the protesters condemned Apple’s environmental claims, alleging that while the company professes to support climate initiatives, it paradoxically backs policies that foster climate denial and contribute to community oppression. Their protest included chants of “Dump Trump, Apple!”
Extinction Rebellion, known for its past actions in New York City, also raised concerns regarding the rising electricity consumption linked to the increased focus on artificial intelligence. A recent sustainability report from Google noted an 11 percent increase in carbon emissions from the previous year, totaling 11.5 million tons. Microsoft is facing similar challenges as it scales up investments in AI, which is projected to consume more electricity than Bitcoin by the end of 2023.
“In 2023, Tim Cook indicated that addressing climate change was among our most pressing responsibilities,” stated Miles Grant, a representative of Extinction Rebellion. “As we enter 2025, he is supporting Trump, who is actively reversing climate advancements. They have betrayed their consumers and the planet at a critical juncture for humanity.”
Apple has not yet responded to inquiries from Technology News regarding the incident.
