The new Prospect Park Captain America statue is only advertising one product, says Borough President Adams — the United States of America.
The Beep hit back at peeved park-goers who have criticized him for giving a multi-million-dollar Disney film franchise a platform in the public green space at an unveiling event for the controversial 13-foot-tall bronze effigy on Wednesday, claiming the supersized action figure will aid in the war on terror by winning over locals to the stars and stripes.
“It’s not a marketing ploy — it’s a public relation ploy to show how great America is,” said the Beep. “We’re using this symbol to continue to sell one of the best products on Earth, and that’s America. We want to stop radicalization and we want people to become Americanized.”
There was little dissent on display at Wednesday’s opening, where hundreds of fans from across the city — many in costume — gathered just to catch a glimpse of the effigy, which will stop in the park’s Children’s Corner for two weeks as part of a nationwide tour to celebrate the character’s 75th anniversary.
“I came out to see the statue with my own eyes, and seeing it with my own eyes, it’s amazing,” said Jonathan Jennings, who traveled all the way from the northern hinterlands of Queens to behold the solid-bronze super soldier.
Still, being the freedom lover that he is, Adams said he was actually disappointed there wasn’t more outcry when he first announced the giant idol — and was relieved when it finally started flowing in.
“I was disappointed that we got close to the [unveiling] date and I was not hearing any objections,” he said. “In Brooklyn people object to everything, so I was glad to learn we haven’t lost our swagger.”
Most critics charged that the statue — emblazoned with the film quote “I’m just a kid from Brooklyn” — was just a way for Marvel to push movie tickets and merchandise that would contribute nothing to Brooklyn’s Backyard beyond a standard event permit fee.
Others objected on the far nerdier grounds that Cap’s alter-ego Steve Rogers is actually from Manhattan in the comics, and was only recast as a Brooklynite in recent films — though the superfans that came for the opening were happy to accept the character as a native son.
“I hear they’re going to move it, but it should stay here,” said Park Slope resident and life-long Brooklynite Jose Soto, who took time off work to attending the unveiling. “He’s from Brooklyn, he belongs here.”
Adams claimed his office ultimately received far more positive feedback on the statue than negative, though detractors were not hard to find — one passerby rolled her eyes at yet another statue of a white man in the park.
“Captain America is like this straight, white male, who are often honored in history books and statues,” said Carroll Gardens resident Olivia Karwowski. “Maybe we can honor women and people of color who have done important things in history.”
