14 DAY TRIAL // Germany’s capital has become the resting place of three monuments of the most well-known American whistleblowers: Edward Snowden, WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and former US soldier Chelsea Manning.
Although Americans might not think very highly of them, they seem to enjoy more gratitude and respect from Europeans, and the monuments raised in their honor are the living proof of that.
The three life-size bronze sculptures are part of the Anything to say? campaign and have been designed by Italian sculptor Davide Dormino, in collaboration with American journalist Charles Glass.
The latter knows the torment of being deprived of your freedom perfectly well, as he has been the victim of a kidnapping in Lebanon. He even wrote a book about his horrible experiences called "Tribes with Flags."
The work of art invites people to take a stand
The three sculptures are standing on chairs, with a fourth one waiting for "you" to summon up the courage and join the trio in their fight for freedom.
The campaigners have expressed their intention to raise awareness about their project and put their work of art on display in various other cities to spread the message and encourage people to speak out.
This is not the first time a statue of Edward Snowden has made a public appearance. A bust of the whistleblower was recently erected in Brooklyn Park, stirring some controversy and an online dispute between those who consider him a national hero and those who see him as a traitor.
But unlike in Berlin, where the initiative was praised, the Brooklyn authorities were quick to cover the bust and soon took it down.
People from Berlin showed a little more enthusiasm for the public work of art and hastened to occupy the empty chair and side with the three men.
The people behind the idea had started a Kickstarter campaign in order to raise the money for the construction of the monuments, but their goal was deemed unsuccessful, given that they had managed to raise about a third of the £100,000 ($151,446) goal. However, they somehow managed to carry it out and the life-size statues will soon begin their global tour.