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Taking aim at drone warfare

Photo by Jefferson Siegel
Photo by Jefferson Siegel

A full-size model of a drone stood mounted by the “Hare Krishna Tree” in Tompkins Square Park Sunday afternoon. Built by Knowdrones (https://www.knowdrones.com), it’s meant to call attention to what the group calls the madness of drone warfare. The five-year-old drone replica been at numerous antiwar demonstrations and also Zuccotti Park during Occupy Wall Street. Felton Davis, of the Catholic Worker, handed out fliers in the park on Sunday. “Here in the park is a lot of unfocused frustration because of changes in technology,” he told The Villager. “Technology is out of control. You don’t have to feel alone. We can organize.” On the flier’s reverse side was a map listing dozens of drone bases across the country. The map can be viewed at https://publicintelligence.net/dod-us-drone-activities-map. Over the weekend, it was reported the U.S. launched drone strikes in Yemen, killing at least 15 militants. On Sunday, a report said the F.A.A. has banned outdoor drone use at the University of Missouri. On a lighter note, a fun video titled “Aerial NYC,” by director Randy Scott Slavin, shows striking footage of the city taken from a camera-equipped drone, including a breathtaking sequence as the craft flies through the Washington Square Park Arch and over the park. It can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/91962736 .