Scaling the New York Times building has become a top choice for protesters in the Big Apple as of late. With two climbers ascending the building within hours of each other in June and now a third completing a climb only last week, the renowned media outlet may be seriously regretting their choice of building materials. Officially opened late this fall, the skyscraper was heralded for its innovative design which includes ceramic tubing encasing the walls to serve as a sunscreen for the tenants inside and a ladder for the daredevils on the outside. The tubing has allowed the three climbers, all who claim to have made the decision to scale the structure separately, to make it up the side of the building with ease while simultaneously making various political statements. Unfortunately for these brave, or foolish, men, the NYPD was waiting to apprehend each with a number of misdemeanor charges.

Reckless endangerment, graffiti and disorderly conduct are among the charges that have been pressed against the climbers but Frenchman Alain Robert, first to scale the 52 story structure, has been able to escape the most damaging of these. Robert, with years of experience under his belt as a stuntman, provided the grand jury with evidence that he had not only tested the building for safety prior to the climb but also took significant precautions to warn passersby of what would be occurring. Feeling generous, the grand jury relieved Robert of any counts of misdemeanor offenses but will still face sentencing regarding his disorderly conduct. As for the others, Renaldo Clark and David Malone will most likely not be as lucky. With no apparent experience in the fields of climbing and offering no apologies for their spontaneous antics Clark and Malone could face a significant amount of jail time.

Source: NYdailynews.com, NYtimes.com