Liberty Street Protest
Encyclopedia
Glen E. Friedman
Glen E. Friedman is an American photographer and artist.Coming to prominence in the 1980s with his photography of skateboarders and musicians, Friedman is considered one of the most important photographers of his generation.He is perhaps best known for his work promoting rebellious artists such as...
had gained permission from his long-time friend Russell Simmons
Russell Simmons
-External links:** * * * * * * from the US Holocaust Memorial Museum* *...
to make a huge political statement in the windows of his property across the street from the World Trade Center site
World Trade Center site
The World Trade Center site , also known as "Ground Zero" after the September 11 attacks, sits on in Lower Manhattan in New York City...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, just before for the Republican National Convention
Republican National Convention
The Republican National Convention is the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States. Convened by the Republican National Committee, the stated purpose of the convocation is to nominate an official candidate in an upcoming U.S...
. Artists' Chris Habib and Shepard Fairey
Shepard Fairey
Frank Shepard Fairey is an American contemporary graphic designer, and illustrator who emerged from the skateboarding scene. He first became known for his "André the Giant Has a Posse" sticker campaign, in which he appropriated images from the comedic supermarket tabloid Weekly World News. His...
assisted with design and execution. All the 27 signs (measuring approximately 8' x 4' each) remained on display through September 10, 2004. From September 10 through the Presidential election of 2004 only the top row of signs remained. By the end of November 2004 only the last two signs (the peace symbol
Peace symbol
A number of peace symbols have been used in various cultures and contexts, one of the most ancient being the olive branch. The dove and olive branch was used by early Christians and was later adopted as a secular symbol. It was popularised by Pablo Picasso in 1949 and became widely used in the...
and one that stated "Dissent Is Patriotic") remained. These last two signs were in place until January 2007, when the Democratic Party
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
took power back in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, thanks to the American peoples' frustration with the war in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
, at which time the current owners of the apartment removed the signs.
The signs read: NO WAR (5x), NO MORE LIES, (Peace symbol
Peace symbol
A number of peace symbols have been used in various cultures and contexts, one of the most ancient being the olive branch. The dove and olive branch was used by early Christians and was later adopted as a secular symbol. It was popularised by Pablo Picasso in 1949 and became widely used in the...
image x3), DISSENT IS PATRIOTIC (x2), OIL WAR, TRUTH MUST BE TOLD, (Martin Luther King Jr. image), WE STILL DREAM, APATHY KILLS, STAND UP, (Fist image x4), SPEAK OUT.
The Artist Statement
"Since the original window displays went up in mid-July, thousands and thousands of visitors to the Ground Zero/former World Trade Center site have read the messages of the LIBERTY STREET PROTEST. While most visitors from all around the world and from the five boroughs are happy to read and support the positive messages, some complain that the texts are not respectful to the "troops," or to the people who perished at the site. These critics are, deliberately, misreading the signs.However one believes that these architectural monuments of global capitalism were "brought down", what remains indisputable is that lives have and are being sacrificed across the globe in the name of a war machine that disrespects all life, and it is in the name of those who have perished that this government is manufacturing the war on terror. The "military industrial complex" is in full effect and imposing the fascist unconstitutional Patriot Acts on a nation of mostly unsuspecting people.
The oligarch's agenda, which uses big business and governments to control the world's resources, does not include the welfare of people or care of the human plight, only of their corporate profits. It is selfish and short sighted. Manipulating the events of 9/11, should not be used as an excuse for corporate gain or global domination by ANYONE.
We are New Yorkers who lived through the events on September 11, 2001. We are American citizens. Our messages honor the core values of communication, love, and understanding. It is every free thinking person's duty to speak out against these bullies who force average citizens to forget about their own worth and pride in the society they helped to create.
This protest is one example of a few folks getting together to voice an opinion, exercising their First Amendment rights. It is an opinion which has been stifled out of fear. A fear which is generated by a government that wants absolute control over its citizenry, when ideally it should be working towards harmony with the people.
As stated in the previous notes: The current Republican administration is perhaps the most arrogant, abusive, power-hungry government that has existed in U.S. history. Most Americans can't stand them. They "stole" the election, they are headed towards global destruction for corporate gain, and it is the responsibility of every citizen to speak out against them!
Another goal of The LIBERTY STREET PROTEST is for the president or future president to be confronted with a strong anti-war message when he comes through town. Be assured that this message is directed at any and ALL legislators, individuals, or governments who support war."
Title of the Work
The title "Liberty Street Protest" was derived from the street on which the installation was displayed, facing Ground ZeroGround zero
The term ground zero describes the point on the Earth's surface closest to a detonation...
. The building is located at 114 Liberty Street. This was directly across from where the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
once stood.
