On Aug. 27, 1776, the Battle of Brooklyn, the first and largest in the War of Independence, was fought right here in what are now the streets of Gowanus, Prospect Park and Green-Wood Cemetery.
All too few Brooklynites are aware that their fate — and the fate of our fledgling republic — hung in the balance on that historic day. General Howe and Lord Howe had brought the entire British Army and Navy to New York and were determined to crush the American rebellion.
Thirty thousand well-trained and equipped troops of the superpower of its day were arrayed against Washington’s army of 11,000 colonial soldiers, state militiamen and ordinary citizens who believed in the ideals of individual liberty and political freedom.
The irony is that today, we are truly engaged in the Battle for Brooklyn.
The very liberties and political freedom that the Declaration of Independence proclaimed and the blood and sacrifice offered in the Battle of Brooklyn by patriots are now being trampled and sullied by the tyranny of a distant state government and its unelected representatives.
The Atlantic Yards project is an attack on our civil liberties, political freedom, our neighborhoods and our environment.
The seizure of private homes and businesses, under the hammer of eminent domain, for the purpose of benefiting another person, makes our Bill of Rights null and void.
To impose this megalith of a monstrosity upon Brooklyn’s brownstone neighborhoods, without the normal city public review process, makes a mockery of democracy.
During the 1960s and 1970s, with the inspiration of Jane Jacobs, citizens fought and stopped Robert Moses and his urban removal and destruction of our city neighborhoods.
What is the Empire State Development Corporation? Who is Charles Gargano? Who elected him and gave him the power to forever pollute our air, choke our streets and subways, steal our sky and Manhattanize the low-rise residential character of Brooklyn’s neighborhoods? Where are our elected representatives?
Arouse and awaken your revolutionary spirit! The new Battle for Brooklyn is on! Will you be a part of it?
Hail the sacrifices of the famed “Maryland 400” next weekend at the Old Stone House and the nearby Michael A. Rawley American Legion Post.
It was there that the Marylanders, led by General William Alexander, faced a force of 2,000 British genadiers and Scottish Highlanders, whose cannons were firing down on Washington’s American soldiers fleeing across Gowanus Creek to Brooklyn Heights. Wave after wave of heroic Marylanders stormed and attacked their foe until they seized and silenced their cannons.
Two-hundred and fifty six Marylanders were killed and they were buried in a mass grave on the farm of Adrian Van Brunt. Their valiant bravery and sacrifice gave Washington time to regroup and escape to Manhattan on Aug. 29, prepared to fight another day.
Joe Ferris was a New York State Assemblyman from 1975-1984, representing Park Slope
The Michael A. Rawley American Legion Post (193 Ninth St., between Third and Fourth avenues) will host the opening ceremonies to Battle Week on Sat., Aug. 19, at 10 am. On Sunday, Aug. 27, Green-Wood Cemetery will offer tours and lectures from 9:30 am-2 pm.
