Hey, someone was taking advantage of yesterday's nice weather. There was an almost naked guy crucifying himself on an Astor Place traffic light pole, to protest the war and America's participation in it. Reader Chris alerts us to these photos on NYC Indymedia taken by Fred Askew who says that the man was on up there for two hours before the police took him down. Plus, the protestor changed the "One Way" signs to read "No War." Nice!
Photograph by Fred Askew
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Who does he think he is? Jesus Christ???
What some people will do for attention...
The funny part about this was that the cops probably could've gotten the guy down earlier, but they were too busy laughing!
I approve. I liked the necklace of dollars too.
Good Job! If your going to Protest, do it where people will notice. Granted, the so-called mainstream media treats Protests as passé, but this seemed original.
Anyone see this in any Newpapers??
Nice? I don't agree that illegal protests are nice. You can say what you want. You can put a sign on your own building. (Although this can be illegal, too.) But don't mess with traffic. Then again, I am a traffic judge.
Hmm, maybe not "nice" but definitely a shot at being effective. After all, no one bothers to take pictures of Anti-War Banners anymore.
If he was up there for 2 hours, why the delay on the Police's part? Seems Odd, since they patrol the area frequently...
I saw it in AMNewyork this morning.
What pole do I lash myself to in protest of administrative law judges posting on Internet message boards about cases that could potentially appear before them?
what a waste of time...he could have been enjoying the weather by walking around central park, or shopping for goods in soho...but instead, he ties up traffic...all in a cheap, pathetic stunt for attention.
Great. I am glad this guy is doing something a little different to jar the daze most people are in.
effective? um, maybe if he did it somewhere other than the most liberal city in America where about 90% of everybody agrees with what he is saying already. if he actually wants to challange and make them stop for more than two seconds, why doesn't he go down to San Antonio and do it there?
i like to think that the guy assumed he'd be taken down quickly; but instead, he had to stay up there for 2 hours. the whole time he's thinking, "why don't they take me down already? my legs are tired! this sucks!"
Jake Blade is absolutely right. I'm not against anyone's right to protest, but in a city like NYC where the majority of us are much more open-minded than the rest of the nation, a protest like this is more of a self-congratulatory spectacle rather than an action that means much.
Granted their are definitely highly conservative Republican leaning areas in this city--such as on Long Island and even in Midwood, Brooklyn--the sad reality is that a stunt like this only feeds the stereotype of "protestors = looney" rather than protestors have something to say.
Also, this is a side-thought, but are there any protests that address the perverse irony of this war that we have solidiers in Iraq that have inadequette armor/protection to simply keep them alive? Whether your for or against the war, the issue of our soldiers being exposed to excessive risks due to lack of planning/training is an utterly twisted reality of this crazy scenario. For or against the war in Iraq, the soldiers should be taken care of. But not too many people seem to protest or address that issue as "seriously" as some trustafarian Jesus on Astor Place.
why get your knickers in a twist dissing this guy?
he believed in something, he decided to make a statement, and he managed to get some people's attention before getting arrested. he didn't hurt anybody, and provided amusement and food for thought. true, maybe he would've made a bigger statement if he'd staged it in texas -- but hey, let texas find their own kooky people.
what i love about new york is that stuff like this happens. celebrate it.
Hm, what would possibly change america's mind about involvement in Iraq? I know, a nearly naked hippie tied to a lamppost! It's so crazy it has to work!
when I saw ole Jesus up there, I ran and got my camera. Here are more shots:
http://fasinphotoblog.com/jesus/?image=america%20what%20001
FWIW: This does not involve a vehicle, so the case could not potentially appear before me...The city's first "one way" signs were put up in the 1910s.
wtf is wrong with this guy's camera?!
i love u
the man was on up there for two hours before the police took him down.
Two hours? sort of says a lot about how fast they respond to calls!
10:03 AM Friday...
"ring ring"
"911 where's the emergency?"
"HELP!!!! man down with heart attack, 223 East 23rd st!!!!!"
"We'll send an officer as soon as possible, ETA 1:30 PM"
Hey Traffic Judge (#5) - You "don't agree that illegal protests are nice."
What about illegal wars? Are they "not nice", either? Or do you only get cranky when people violate traffic laws?
Screw ethics and God's laws, huh? Just keep it under the limit and all is right with you.
He was waiting for the Redlight. He was trying to change the traffic patter on the money flowing to the Iraq Building Project and Halliburton. He should've had a sign that said Redlight War, or Redlight Means Stop The Embezzlement. Or Redlight Graft.