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December 27, 2009
At another Freddy's media event, a makeshift guillotine is used to execute an eminent domain effigy
Atlantic Yards Report
Norman Oder has the play-by-play from today's Freddy's event, complete with video, plus NoLandGrab photos by Amy Greer.
Last week the staffers and regulars at Freddy's Bar & Backroom, slated to be demolished for the Atlantic Yards arena, installed "chains of justice" so resisters can handcuff themselves to the bar to protest the anticipated eviction.
This week came another media event, the guillotine, a creative structure made out of Pabst beer cans, used to execute an effigy representing "eminent domain theft."
And yes, the media came out--far more than at some of the important legal arguments or governmental meetings. Everybody loves a good metaphor.
Bar manager Donald O'Finn read from a scroll, declaring a revolt against eminent domain law and criticizing the role of ACORN, the British bank Barclays, which bought the arena naming rights that the state gave away, and Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, slated to become majority owner of the Nets.
"It's just like a foreclosure, except they're foreclosing on a neighborhood, and we're not even behind on the mortgage," O'Finn declared.
Click here to "cut" to a slide show.
Posted by eric at December 27, 2009 6:19 PM