It took three days into the Wimbledon Championships in London for protesters to make their mark on the court.
Three Just Stop Oil supporters were removed by security and arrested Wednesday after they ran onto Court 18 and threw orange confetti, glitter and jigsaw pieces onto the grass, disrupting two matches.
The first interruption occurred during the match between Sho Shimabukuro and Grigor Dimitrov, and the second disrupted the women’s singles contest between Katie Boulter and Daria Saville.
Just Stop Oil supporters were removed by security at the 2023 Wimbledon Tennis Championships after they rushed the court and threw orange confetti, glitter and jigsaw pieces onto the grass on July 5, 2023. Getty ImagesThe protesters were detained by security on the court at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, where play was briefly paused. Boulter, an English pro, was seen helping ground staff pick up the debris after the protesters — wearing shirts that read: Just Stop Oil — were escorted off the court.
“Once more, orange clouds hang over a British sporting event this summer — this time it’s ticker tape rather than paint dust, but it is an intrusion and will need sorting out,” one broadcaster could be heard saying during the first protest.
The official Wimbledon Twitter account confirmed that the culprits were removed from the grounds and arrested.
Just Stop Oil supporters were removed by security at the 2023 Wimbledon Tennis Championships after they rushed the court and threw orange confetti, glitter and jigsaw pieces onto the grass on July 5, 2023. Getty Images
Just Stop Oil supporters were removed by security at the 2023 Wimbledon Tennis Championships after they rushed the court and threw orange confetti, glitter and jigsaw pieces onto the grass on July 5, 2023. Getty Images“Following an incident on Court 18, two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage and these individuals have now been removed from the Grounds,” the Wimbledon account read on Wednesday.
“Play on the court was temporarily paused and, following a suspension in play due to a rain delay, play is about to resume.”
Wimbledon confirmed a third arrest in a separate tweet.
English pro, Katie Boulter looks on as ground staff clear confetti from court 18 after Just Stop Oil protesters invaded the court at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 5, 2023. PA Images via Getty Images
English pro, Katie Boulter helps ground staff pick up confetti from after Just Stop Oil protesters invaded the court at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 5, 2023. PA Images via Getty ImagesJust Stop Oil is a United Kingdom-based organization and nonviolent civil resistance group demanding the UK government stop licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects, according to its website.
The organization reposted a video on Twitter of the protesters rushing the court and wrote, in part, that “environmentally friendly orange confetti glitter and jigsaw pieces” were thrown onto the court.
In a video posted by Just Stop Oil, one protester can be seen climbing over the makeshift green wall and storming the court before tossing orange confetti.
Ground staff clear confetti from court 18 after Just Stop Oil protesters invaded the court at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in Wimbledon on July 5, 2023. PA Images via Getty Images
Security chased down a Just Stop Oil protestor on Court 18 at the 2023 Wimbledon Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 5, 2023 in London, England. CameraSport via Getty ImagesIn a separate post, Just Stop Oil stated: “The Wimbledon Championships are currently under fire after signing a sponsorship deal with @Barclays, who have given £30 billion to oil and gas companies, including @exxonmobil, @Shell and @TotalEnergies, in the last two years.”
Last month, it was reported that the organization had plans to make a statement at Wimbledon after it had protested at London Pride.



