Rome: The Waters of the Famous Trevi Fountain Turn Black

Seven young climate change activists climbed the Trevi Fountain in Rome today, Sunday, to protest by pouring a diluted coal solution into its waters, turning them black. The protesters from the group "Ultima Generazione" held banners reading "We won’t pay for fossil fuels" and chanted "Our country is dying." The group, in their statement, called for an end to government support for fossil fuels and linked their protests to the recent floods that have caused fatalities in the Emilia-Romagna region, stating that "one in four houses in Italy faces the risk of flooding due to climate change." Rome's Mayor, Roberto Gualtieri, condemned the protest, saying, "Enough of these senseless attacks on our artistic heritage." The traditional custom when visiting the famous 18th-century Trevi Fountain is to toss coins into it, wishing for a return to Rome one day.