At 21:11hrs Pacific time Sunday October 26, Margin Release a Portland based “active art” collective deployed 1100+ plastic army men to the Portland Metro Area.
This “art action” is in response and made to mimic the US Army’s deployment of the 3rd Infantry’s 1st Brigade Combat Teams known as the “Raiders” to North Com (in the United States) to be an on-call federal response force.
While preparing this mission (art action) Margin Release realized the duality of the project. How it could be seen and had come to also reflect the need to start bringing troops home. Not for “at home” deployment but for the sole mission to be with their families. To be mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, cousins. We in NO WAY have any intention of demeaning the tremendous service our troops perform. We mean not to cause any harm or offense to them or their loved ones, but we believe it is our 1st amendment and civic duty voice our concerns, which are directly tied to the Posse Comitatus Act, and Directive 51. For more information on these acts we have provided the documents and articles on them with in this blog.
If you see these plastic soldiers do not be alarmed
They are here for your safety. They have been deployed to curb civil unrest and help in the case of unforseen catastrophes beit environmental,economical,terrorist attacks,or radical factions assembling under unruly ideas.
1440 plastic armymen 3rd infantry 1st bridage combat team
they are on your corners (stark&30th Ave)
in yours parks (Laurelhurst park)
US Soldiers deployed on Portland soil
Today, I came across active duty soldiers on the Portland waterfront. They have been deployed there by the president in order to prepare for any challenges “Little Beirut” may offer up in the near future.
When I first came across the soldiers, I assumed it was some sort of art project, but then came across a tag on one of the soldiers pointing me to WhenJohnnyComesHome. See, recently, President Bush deployed the US Army’s 3rd Infantry’s 1st Brigade Combat Teams to North Com (the United States) to be an on-call federal response force. Yep, remember the Bruce Willis movie The Siege about when US ARMY forces were deployed in NYC? It could actually happen. While the US has used national guard to help out in natural disasters and civil unrest, this use of the US Army is directly against the Posse Comitatus Act.
I’m nervous. Seriously. Portland is one of those cities that is passionate about its politics. I could see shit going down if the election doesn’t go the way people want it to go. If that happens, and Portland Police want help, they can call in the Army. The Army is a broad sword, not a scalpel. That scares the shit out of me.
This was posted on OURPDX blogsite
Tags: 3rd infantry divsion, activism, army art, army blog, army men, armymen portland, art, art action, art activism, art blog, art collectives, art for the people, blogging, citywide installation art, collectives, conceptual art, installation art, margin release, margin release collective, military, plain brown wrapper, plastic armymen, political activism, political art, political art blog, portland, portland art, portland art collectives, public art, social activism, soldiers coming home, when johnny comes home, when johnny comes home again
November 16, 2008 at 12:53 am
One of these plastic soldiers was deployed on my front porch….frightening!