Environmental activist faces charges after turning public fountains bright green
A local man's attempt to "save the planet" backfired spectacularly when police caught him pouring food coloring into city fountains.
Misguided Mission Goes Wrong
James Peterson, 27, thought he had a clever plan to make people care about water pollution. Instead, he's facing criminal charges and a massive cleanup bill.
The self-proclaimed environmental advocate targeted three major fountains in downtown Madison, Wisconsin during the early morning hours on Tuesday.
Local business owner Sarah Martinez witnessed the incident. "I was opening my coffee shop when I saw this guy dumping something into the Heritage Square fountain. At first, I thought he was cleaning it."
Property Damage Concerns
City maintenance supervisor Tom Wilson says the stunt could have lasting consequences.
"Food coloring might seem harmless, but these historic fountains have delicate filtration systems. We're looking at potential damage to both the mechanisms and the stone surfaces."
Initial estimates put cleanup costs at over $12,000 per fountain.
A History of Disruption
This isn't the first time activists have targeted public water features to make environmental statements.
Similar incidents have occurred in:
- Paris (2019)
- London (2020)
- Vancouver (2022)
The Real Impact
Police finally revealed what Peterson was protesting: algae blooms in local lakes. But his methods may have hurt his cause more than helped.
Environmental scientist Dr. Rachel Chen explains why:
"While algae blooms are a serious issue, vandalism alienates the public. It makes people less likely to support legitimate environmental efforts."
Peterson now faces three counts of vandalism and one count of criminal mischief. If convicted, he could spend up to 18 months in jail.
The city's parks department confirms all three fountains will remain closed until properly cleaned and tested for damage.
Local environmental groups have distanced themselves from Peterson's actions, emphasizing their commitment to legal forms of advocacy and public education.
