Jul 10, 2009 6:06 am US/Eastern
Beheaded Statue Of Liberty Video Draws Outrage
Replica Lady Liberty Stolen From Brooklyn Coffee Shop Turns Up Beheaded In YouTube Video
Message 'Death To America' Flashed Across Screen
Reporting
Jay Dow
NEW YORK (CBS) ―
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A replica statue of Lady Liberty was stolen from a coffee shop in Brooklyn, and then turned up in a gross, anti-American video on YouTube. Many are wondering if the incident was a prank or a legitimate threat.
CBS
A replica statue of Lady Liberty stolen from a Brooklyn coffee shop turned up on the Internet, beheaded. Is it a sick prank or something more?
An 8-foot version of the Statue of Liberty made a triumphant return to her home at the popular Vox Pop Coffee House in Brooklyn last month. But less than 48 hours later, she was gone, and soon made the target of a hateful, anti-American message for the world to see.
"It was pretty secure. So that whoever stole it really had to go through a lot of trouble," said Vox Pop shareholder Tom Martinez.
Regulars at Vox Pop, latin for voice of the people, were not happy, thinking only that the statue had been stolen.
"I just think it's really immature," said Brooklyn resident Brian Uieda.
But when the statue turned up in a disturbing YouTube video, posted on July 4th no less, that displeasure turned to outrage. The 59-second clip, entitled "Liberty Vox Pop Death" opens optimistically enough with a gritty image of the American flag.
But then someone lowers an electric power saw to the statue's neck, followed by a hand, manually sawing away. A message reading "we don't want your freedom" flashes on the screen, until the blindfolded fiiberglass head is fully decapitated and then bashed with a baseball bat.
The last message: "DEATH TO AMERICA."
"Now that the video has come to light, I find it deeply disturbing," said Martinez.
"I'm hoping that it's some sort of misplaced teenage angst or something," said customer Lashonda Harris. "And not a national security threat."
The patrons, who spoke with CBS 2 HD, are split on whether the incident should be classified as a cruel prank or a legitimate act of terror. But Debbie Ryan, the president and CEO of Vox Pop is certain of one thing.
"I don't know if it was a stupid arts student thing or if it's an act of terrorism," said Ryan. "I know what it is, it's a crime. You stole public property."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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