Taking the Power Back: One Man’s Quest for Light

“I think that we should be men first, and subjects afterward.  It is not so desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.” -Henry David Thoreau, Civil Disobedience, 1849

On August 29th, Derek Anderson (Mark Conahan’s age) committed a breach of peace when he scaled a 300-foot crane located in the beer garden of the Doghouse Public House.  This act of civil disobedience was an aim to shed some light on a particular subject: the Dudhope Skatepark, pictured above courtesy of Google Maps user ihatetechnology,  in Westport, Dundee, UK.

Anderson told reporters at the Courier that he committed this crime because he was upset that there were no floodlights in place at his local skatepark.  He had been plotting this protest for days prior, and decided that the crane would make an excellent podium for his expression of discontent with the neighbors, who were unhappy that the park was there.  “He got it into his head to perform some peaceful protest for what he thought was the vindictiveness of these residents, who did not want people using the skate park at all,” said Deputy fiscal Gavin Callaghan.

As Anderson climbed, he threw several items at the ground including a reflective vest, plastic shinguards, and a baseball hat that he was wearing.  None of these items caused injury to onlookers, but did frighten them.  While up on the crane, Anderson took off his shirt and was yelling inaudibly and swinging from the crane by his hands.  After an hour and a half, he came down and was promptly arrested.  Upon climbing down, Anderson spoke of the future, “Spiderman always gets away- I’ll have to plan my escape route better.”

“I never did it because I was drunk, I’ll do it again sober if you like,” said Anderson, hinting that his protesting will not end until his mission is complete.

Now that this event has come to the attention of the media, will skaters draw inspiration from these events?  Will Portland skatepark activist Mark Conahan take drastic steps to ensure the covering of Pier?  Only time will tell…

– Thanks Septic Kilt for the tip.