Twitter user @pasopeace takes credit for “End Drone Warfare”
Twitter user @pasopeace takes credit for “End Drone Warfare”
Inspiration came from Week for Christian Unity and Martin Luther King, Jr.
A Paso Robles man says he and his wife are responsible for the “End Drone Warfare” message posted on the Fox Theater last week. The message was removed this week. The marque above is decked out with brightly colored letters spelling “PASO” with a peace symbol in the “O.”
The Obama administration has dramatically increased the use of drones over the past four years for targeting suspected terrorists and enemies of the United States, including killing US citizens abroad. The administration is currently drafting a protocol for drone warfare that exempts the CIA. See report in The Guardian.
Going by the twitter handle @pasopeace, the man exchanged several messages with the Paso Robles Daily News. He asked to remain anonymous. @pasopeace says this is their first public protest message.
“Paso Peace is a way for my wife and I to encourage peace, raise important questions among our community and advocate for public art,” he says. “Our vision for Paso Peace is that it inspire conversation about peace and public action by artists and thought leaders in our beloved city.
“The timing of my vision for the Fox Theater came right on the heels of the Week for Christian Unity which local Churches participated in, Along with the celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King’s life and legacy here in Paso last week. King promoted peace. King’s message in his speech ‘Beyond Vietnam’ speaks to action, not silence.
“The Paso Peace message was a very recent vision I had after years of thinking about performing an installation at the Fox Theater. The drone issue is one that causes me to think about peace and the concept of peace being opposite of security.
“Our public projects may be trespass like the Fox Theater project, but are designed to be non-invasive and do no harm. A close look at the Fox Theater installation shows our non-invasive method. It was installed by two of us in less than 10 minutes and could be removed in less than 5 minutes with no damage to the space.
“We are working on one new project, planning two others. The drone issue must remain front, center and public to encourage conversation.”
The owner of the theater, a local resident currently residing in San Francisco, was contacted by the Paso Robles Police Department, according to a report by KRPL Radio. “He advised the posting was vandalism and not authorized by the owner,” the radio station reported. According to county records, the property at 1436 Spring Street is owned by Turano, Turano & Thompson Inc. It has been for sale on the real estate market from time to time, but is not currently listed.
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