Sunday, April 27, 2025

In Tompkins Square Park, a creative pushback against tech's reach

Photos by Stacie Joy 

Yesterday afternoon, a coalition of NYC-based groups gathered in Tompkins Square Park to question the growing influence of technology on daily life.
The event combined performance, protest, and community activities, with participants wearing gnome hats inspired by the Orange Alternative and Kabouters. Highlights included a Luddite tribunal, a cellphone "hours wasted" vigil, a cardboard iPhone display, open soapbox speeches, and chalk art, all aimed at pushing back against Big Tech's dominance in politics, culture, and personal life.
Some scenes from the afternoon...
According to the organizers: "As New York City continues to evolve as a hub for innovation and tech development, the event serves as a timely opportunity to critically examine the implications of technology on the daily lives of its residents." 

"This isn't a one-off protest — it's part of a larger movement in New York City demanding accountability and alternatives," Bucky Baldwin, a coalition organizer, said in a statement shared before the event. "As residents feel increasingly alienated by algorithmic systems, automated decision-making, and corporate surveillance, these groups are coming together to imagine a more human, more just city."
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