Reverend Billy Preaches Outside The Varick St. Detention Center

NEW YORK -- March 7, 2009. On Saturday, street theatre "preacher", political activist -- and now mayoral candidate -- Reverend Billy [ aka Bill Talen ] and his "Life After Shopping Choir" visited the Varick St. Service Processing Center (SPC) in lower Manhattan. The choir sang songs of freedom from the sidewalk outside the jail -- and Rev Billy delivered a brief sermon. (The sermon is captured in this clip).

According to Reverend Billy, "Service Processing Center" is a euphemism for a domestic Guantanamo-style prison camp. Rejoicing in Obama's decision to close Gitmo, Rev Billy urged the President on, saying "Hurry up Obama!" The Reverend also urged the closing of similar facilities in the U.S.

Present at the ceremony was a former inmate of the Varick St facility, Amy Gottlieb from the American Friends Service Committee and activist David Wilson.

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News & Politics

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• Next Left Notes
• NLN
• Thomas Good
• Reverend Billy
• Guantanamo
• Unlawful Detention
• War Crimes
• Civil Rights
• Human Rights
• Immigrant Rights