Bust Of Edward Snowden Promptly Covered, Removed By Authorities

The 100-pound bust of the (in)famous NSA whistleblower was erected near the park's Prison Ship Martyrs Monument early Monday morning. The artists who pulled it off told ANIMAL:

"Fort Greene’s Prison Ship Martyrs Monument is a memorial to American POWs who lost their lives during the Revolutionary War. We have updated this monument to highlight those who sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies. It would be a dishonor to those memorialized here to not laud those who protect the ideals they fought for, as Edward Snowden has by bringing the NSA’s 4th-Amendment-violating surveillance programs to light. All too often, figures who strive to uphold these ideals have been cast as criminals rather than in bronze.

"Our goal is to bring a renewed vitality to the space and prompt even more visitors to ponder the sacrifices made for their freedoms. We hope this inspires them to reflect upon the responsibility we all bear to ensure our liberties exist long into the future." Authorities quickly covered the bust with a tarp, thus shielding parents from all sorts of invasive questions from their curious offspring, like "What is the NSA?" and "Isn't it ironic that the bust of a man known for blowing the lid off of the country's surveillance program is now being physically hidden with a tarp?"

link

They worked awfully hard at covering that statue up and removing it. They put a tarp over it to shield us citizens from the visage of a real patriot. They must have been extremely offended to tear it down so quick.

a reply to: theyknowwhoyouare

My father fought for this country and he would be damned proud of Snowden if Dad were alive.

I hope it goes viral throughout as a reminder. Seems that many people, over time, are lost on these privacy issues.

Not to worry!

After the police state removed the bust, the artist returned and put up a hologram bust!



"Our feeling is that while the State may remove any material artifacts that speak in defiance against incumbent authoritarianism, the acts of resistance remain in the public consciousness. And it is in sharing that act of defiance that hope resides."

" they" tell us ...if you have nothing to hide why worry about who is looking. So what does hiding this statue tell us?

originally posted by: dreamingawake
I hope it goes viral throughout as a reminder. Seems that many people, over time, are lost on these privacy issues.

This is just a big home grown wow, maybe an end to the Sheeple People calling. An a-political message from the US itself, as a message to the rest of the world, just brilliant.

It's a shame to see that telling the truth is now considered something to be hidden and ashamed of.

I'm glad to see that not everyone thinks that it is something to be hidden and ashamed of.

What information has Snowden revealed that we don't already know? I think Snowden just transferred information to Russia for Obama, and he made it looked like he was outing the US which got all of the tin foil hats yelling yay. Nothing to see here.

When I saw this story, I was hopeful the rationale behind the action would be noticed by the way too many people who accept the governments big brother stance, but it's not getting the attention I hoped for - not surprising.

Instead, the only part you hear about is that the authorities had to take it down because defacing property is taboo.....oh and so is Snowden.

originally posted by: Enochstask
What information has Snowden revealed that we don't already know? I think Snowden just transferred information to Russia for Obama, and he made it looked like he was outing the US which got all of the tin foil hats yelling yay. Nothing to see here.

Have you ever read everything that Snowden handed over to the Guardian..I haven't, and that's because you'd likely be dead before you read all of it, and our English press in certain quarters is making attempted mayhem with that just today, (Damage limitation?) citing Snowden as saying he hadn't read all of the stuff himself as if?
It doesn't matter if you or I knew anything, what does matter is that Snowden made officialdom forced to concede on their activities and their response so aptly put by JHumm in that post,

" they" tell us ...if you have nothing to hide why worry about who is looking. So what does hiding this statue tell us?"
?

a reply to: Blackmarketeer

I don't get it, that is the type of reaction you would see in an authoritarian dictatorship like north Korea or China, why in america during modern times would they.......oh...ya

I think this story is being a little misrepresented here.
From Yahoo:

Suddenly, in the middle of the New York night, Edward Snowden's face appeared — deep in a public park.

A 4-foot-high, 100-pound sculpted bust of the whistleblower now exiled in Russia was sneaked into Brooklyn's Fort Greene Park on Monday before dawn.

Animal New York, a city news website that first reported the incident, said the mysterious perpetrators were a small group of artists — admirers of the former contractor who had leaked classified information from the National Security Agency to the media.

The activists hoisted the bust to the top of a Revolutionary War memorial, adding his name to a column, according to Animal New York.

The website says the group allowed it to document installation of the statue on the condition that it not reveal the identities of the artists.

Snowden's artistic appearance was short-lived.

At daybreak, police said city parks officials ordered the sculpted Snowden removed. And by evening, his bust was being held at Brooklyn's 88th Precinct pending an investigation.

The idea for the tribute was conceived by two New York City-based artists, joined by a West Coast sculptor, Animal New York said.

In a statement to the online outlet, they said they had "updated" the memorial to American POWs who died during the Revolutionary War "to highlight those who sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies. It would be a dishonor to those memorialized here to not laud those who protect the ideals they fought for, as Edward Snowden has by bringing the NSA's 4th-Amendment-violating surveillance programs to light." (AP)
news.yahoo.com...

They basically decided, "Hey, F this memorial's actual purpose, let's put whatever we want in!" I'd be miffed, but considering if they'd done this at Arlington, people would have a colossal collective sh&%fit over it, I don't see the problem with the removal. When it comes to public memorials, you generally have to go through the proper hoops to get something added, otherwise it's defacement. It's really that simple (and I'm pro-Snowden)

a reply to: Nyiah

They basically decided, "Hey, F this memorial's actual purpose, let's put whatever we want in!" I'd be miffed, but considering if they'd done this at Arlington, people would have a colossal collective sh&%fit over it

No, they respected the purpose of the memorial by saying...

...they had "updated" the memorial to American POWs who died during the Revolutionary War "to highlight those who sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies. It would be a dishonor to those memorialized here to not laud those who protect the ideals they fought for, as Edward Snowden has by bringing the NSA's 4th-Amendment-violating surveillance programs to light." (AP)

That's WHY they chose it to make their point.

Snowden is a true American Patriot. If only we had more like him. Real heros. Truth is never wrong. Those that deny truth or want us shielded from it for some reason or those on ats spouting the government line.. that we knew everything he told us anyway. Why? Why do you not want truth out there?

It makes us wonder what you have to hide.

originally posted by: Maluhia
When I saw this story, I was hopeful the rationale behind the action would be noticed by the way too many people who accept the governments big brother stance, but it's not getting the attention I hoped for - not surprising.

Instead, the only part you hear about is that the authorities had to take it down because defacing property is taboo.....oh and so is Snowden.

What a cute picture.
Among the crowd here, we are not allowed to criticize Snowden, Putin, Obama, RT.....any treasonous persons that defect from their posts during war.....interesting.

originally posted by: Enochstask
What information has Snowden revealed that we don't already know? I think Snowden just transferred information to Russia for Obama, and he made it looked like he was outing the US which got all of the tin foil hats yelling yay. Nothing to see here.

Actually, there is quite a lot which was revealed. While many had suspicions of what the government agencies were up to, no one knew the extent to which they were doing it. Nor did they know the techniques and programs involved.

As for Snowden handing information over to Russia, i don't believe that to be the case. He was never intending to stay in Russia, as the USA cancelled his passport en route to South America when he was in transit to a stopover in Moscow. He also handed the sensitive materials to journalists before boarding the flight.

a reply to: Maluhia

Would it be acceptable if they had done this at another war memorial of more recent importance? How about the Vietnam Veterans Wall, should they had added his name to it & planted the bust atop it? Or is the Revolutionary War far enough back in history that it's an acceptable medium?

These memorials serve a specific purpose, installing statues of non-related people beats their purpose entirely.

Perhaps an effort can be made to get a park established just for the bust to honor him. Seems a great opportunity for a crowd-funded project. Maybe a little corner of Prospect Park, where Lindbergh, another man who changed history, ended his ticker-tape parade.
I'm just hoping that the bust is still in good condition when the police release it. That sort of determination and talent deserve respect.

a reply to: theyknowwhoyouare

Eventually there will be revolution in US

No other way, government has gone too far long time ago

originally posted by: TinfoilTP

originally posted by: Maluhia
When I saw this story, I was hopeful the rationale behind the action would be noticed by the way too many people who accept the governments big brother stance, but it's not getting the attention I hoped for - not surprising.

Instead, the only part you hear about is that the authorities had to take it down because defacing property is taboo.....oh and so is Snowden.

What a cute picture.
Among the crowd here, we are not allowed to criticize Snowden, Putin, Obama, RT.....any treasonous persons that defect from their posts during war.....interesting.

On what parallel site? Those you mentioned are heavily criticized here.