Original URL: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/11/robocop_statue/
Detroit citizens demand RoboCop statue
I'll buy that for a dollar $50,000
Posted in Bootnotes, 11th February 2011 11:50 GMT
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Fans of Paul Verhoeven's 1987 classic RoboCop [1] have launched an online campaign to erect a statue in honour of their crimebusting hero.
Via the inevitable Facebook presence [2], and a tin-rattling site [3], Brandon Walley and chums hope to raise the $50,000 necessary to make officer Murphy a permanent fixture on Detroit's streets.
The initiative has the tentative support of mayor Dave Bing, who "would consider using public land for a donated RoboCop statue", Reuters reports [4].
His spokeswoman Karen Dumas said: "Should the opportunity present itself to receive a donation of this or any other works of public art, we will consider acceptance and appropriate placement."
So far so good, but some locals aren't too impressed [5] with the idea of celebrating Paul Verhoeven's vision of a dystopian, crime-ravaged, hellhole Detroit when plans to laud Motown with statues of Michael Jackson and Diana Ross have so far come to nothing.
Walley defended the idea: "I think the important thing in the movie is RoboCop himself and the values he stood for. I think a lot of people who are saying that movie just puts Detroit in a negative light – well, there's a lot more in there that they might be missing."
As of this morning, the RoboCop fighting fund stands at a tad over $6k. Those wishing to contribute have 43 days to comply before the deadline on 26 March. ®