This just in:  an exemplar of French femininity is occupying Bedloe’s Island, and has done so for  . . . 125 years!!  And today . . . something just had to be done about it.  Rubber bullets?  No.  Tear gas canisters?  Nah.  Ghostbusters?  Daryl Hannah?

Bring in Aphrodite, former motor yacht of a Wall Street financier.    And as a testament to the tension between Liberte and Aphrodite, keep a fireboat near by.

Bring in bright lights to shine in the occupier’s eyes.

And when things begin to smolder, Hornblower Hybrid notwithstanding,

turn on the pumps, all

the pumps, and

intimidate with the largest vessel in that part of the harbor following an erratic course.

Cool it down with tens of thousands of gallons per minute.

Well . . . actually . . . let me join . . . bonne anniversaire, Mademoiselle Liberte, she who never sits down at her job.   I’m glad you’ve faithfully occupied that island, once used otherwise, all those years and spawned replicas all over the world.

All fotos by Will Van Dorp.

Notice who is and is not represented in the parade.

Ooops!  I forgot, click here for “torchcam” and see things from the enlightener’s point of view.