A trio of anonymous artists and helpers installed a bust of Edward Snowden in Brooklyn Monday morning. <\/p>\n
The 100-pound statue was hauled into Fort Greene Park just before dawn, according to ANIMALNewYork, which originally reported the story. <\/p>\n
The idea for the statue came from two artists and was made by a West Coast sculptor. <\/p>\n
The statue was fused to part of the Prison Ship Martyrs Monument, a memorial to Revolutionary War Soldiers, in Fort Greene Park. The monument marks the site of a crypt for more than 11,500 people known as the prison ship martyrs, who were held captive by the British during the Battle of Long Island and died of disease, overcrowding and starvation. <\/p>\n
We have updated this monument to highlight those who sacrifice their safety in the fight against modern-day tyrannies, the artists told ANIMALNewYork in a statement about the project. 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 NSAs 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. <\/p>\n
As for the fate of the statue, it likely wont stay. <\/p>\n
The erection of any unapproved structure or artwork in a city park is illegal, said NYC Parks spokesperson Maeri Ferguson. In terms of removal, we are currently looking into it. <\/p>\n
A video on Vine shows officials covering the sculpture with a blue tarp. <\/p>\n
In other weekend Snowden news, John Oliver of Last Week Tonight flew to Russia and did an interview with him. Oliver is one of a handful of journalists who has met Snowden in person in Russia. <\/p>\n
Snowden was an hour late to the interview and, just before he arrived, Oliver realized the building was located across the street from Russias Federal Security Bureau headquarters, former home to the KGB. Oliver quipped, Weve just been told they know were here. So, um, so that happened. <\/p>\n
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