Anti-Corporate Activist Rev. Billy Arrested in Midtown
Fri, Nov 26, 2010
Biil Talen also known as "Reverend Billy" sings anti-corporate christmas carols with his Church of Life After Shopping Gospel Choir in a Citibank office. (Manuel Rueda/The Brooklyn Ink)
By Manuel Rueda
Police arrested anti-consumerism activist Reverend Billy today on a charge of trespassing inside a UBS in midtown, as he and others sang a protest song to the tune of “Jingle Bells.” The arrest was witnessed by The Brooklyn Ink reporter Manuel Rueda.
Reverend Billy, whose real name is Bill Talen, leads the Church of Life After Shopping, a performance group that speaks out against consumerism. The group is involved in a campaign against mountain-top removal mining in the U.S.
Earlier this afternoon, Rueda reports that Reverend Billy and a group of 20 protesters dressed as “anti-shopping” angels sung Christmas carols at the offices of a few banks in midtown, including CHASE and Citibank. The protest was part of the group’s Buy Nothing Day Parade of Angels. Rueda reports that Rev. Billy was detained after his group sung carols inside UBS headquarters, located at 1285 6th Ave. The activists protested the bank because it finances mountain-top removal. About 20 others, not dressed as angels, joined in.
Tags: Activism, Consumerism, Manuel Rueda
But the carols we sang to Chase and Citibank earlier that day were to CONGRATULATE and THANK them for DISIVESTING in mountaintop removal! Funny how those bankers met us with smiles, laughter, and cell phone cameras to share with their co-workers and families.
The tune changed and the harmless frolic in the lobby was clearly not so well-received at UBS. The security shoved and manhandled Rev. Billy, and then blocked the doors when we tried to exit.