2007 Boston Mooninite panic

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File:AQHF LED in Cambridge.jpg
LED advertisement featuring the character Ignignokt (from ATHF), as seen in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Identical devices were removed by police throughout the Boston area on January 31, 2007.

The January 31, 2007 Boston bomb scare, Boston advertising security scare, or Boston Mooninite ad scare occured when Boston police officers mistakenly identified small electronic devices found throughout Boston and the surrounding cities of Cambridge and Somerville as improvised explosive devices.[1] The suspicious devices turned out to be battery-powered LED placards with an image of a cartoon character called a "mooninite" used in a guerrilla marketing campaign for Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film For Theaters, a film based on the animated TV series Aqua Teen Hunger Force (ATHF) on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim late-night programming block.[1]

Incident

In November 2006, artists Peter Berdovsky, 27, from Arlington, Massachusetts, and Sean Stevens, 28, of Charlestown, Massachusetts, were hired by marketing company Interference, Inc. to place 40 signs in and around Boston. Berdovsky and Stevens installed the signs in two waves in January 2007, placing 20 signs earlier in the month, and 18 signs on the night of January 29, 2007.[2]

On January 31, 2007, around 8 a.m., an employee of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority spotted the device on a steel beam that supports an elevated section of Interstate 93 (I-93), above Sullivan Station. The Boston police received a phone call about the device around 9 a.m.[citation needed] During the preliminary investigation at the site, the police found that the device shared some characteristics with improvised explosive devices. These characteristics included an identifiable power source, circuit board with exposed wiring, and electrical tape. After the initial assessment, the Boston police shut down the northbound side of I-93 and parts of the public transportation system and at around 10 a.m., destroyed the first device with a water cannon.[1] The Longfellow and Boston University Bridges across the Charles River were also closed, and the Coast Guard closed the river itself to boat traffic.[3][4]

The first media reports that the event was a hoax occurred around 1 p.m.[citation needed] Friends of Peter Berdovsky, the artist hired to place some of the devices, have told reporters that Berdovsky was told by people senior to him to keep information about the event quiet as the situation in Boston played out. Friends report that Berdovsky sent an e-mail at 1:25 p.m., saying that five hours into the scare, an Interference executive requested Berdovsky "keep everything on the dl".[2] One friend said, "We received an e-mail in the early afternoon from Peter that asked the community that he's a part of to keep any information we had on the down low and that was instructed to him by whoever his boss was."[5]

Two hours later, Interference notified their client, Cartoon Network, rather than law enforcement authorities.[2] Between 2 and 3 p.m., a police analyst identified the image on the devices as an ATHF cartoon character, and the police concluded the incident was a publicity stunt.[1] Turner Broadcasting System issued a statement concerning the event at around 4:30 p.m.[6] Portions of the Turner statement read: "We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger. The packages in question are magnetic lights that pose no danger. They are part of an outdoor marketing campaign in 10 cities in support of Adult Swim's animated television show Aqua Teen Hunger Force."[7]

"They have been in place for two to three weeks in Boston, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland, Austin, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. Parent company Turner Broadcasting is in contact with local and federal law enforcement on the exact locations of the billboards. We regret that they were mistakenly thought to pose any danger." The devices had been up in the cities listed for two weeks before the Boston incident occurred.[8][9][10][11]

The marketing company responsible for the campaign, Interference, Inc., has made no comment on the situation and their website has also been down.[12] Berdovsky and Stevens, the individuals hired by Interference to install the signs, were arrested by Boston police during the evening of January 31, and charged with violating Chapter 266: Section 102A½ of The General Laws of Massachusetts, which makes it a crime to place a "hoax device" with the intent to panic the public.[13][14] Both were released on $2,500 bail.

City officials have stated they intend to seek restitution from Turner Broadcasting for costs incurred during the incident. Those costs reportedly top $500,000 USD for Boston and an additional $500,000 for the MBTA, Cambridge, and Somerville. A spokesperson for Turner Broadcasting said that the company accepts full responsibility for the incident.[2]

Devices

During the early morning hours the promotional devices were not illuminated.
File:Mooninite2.JPG
Closeup of the same device with the diodes lit.

The devices were promotional electronic placards for the forthcoming Aqua Teen Hunger Force Colon Movie Film for Theaters. Each device consisted of a circuit board with a magnetic backing and an arrangement of light-emitting diodes powered by four D batteries. The LEDs were arranged in a pixelated likeness of Ignignokt, a Mooninite character from Aqua Teen Hunger Force, displaying the middle finger.[13][15] Similar devices featuring Err, another Mooninite making the same gesture, were also made. Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley said the device "had a very sinister appearance. It had a battery behind it, and wires".[16] (Others thought that the displays resembled Lite-Brites. [17])

Arrests

Berdovsky and Stevens were arrested on the day of the incident and charged with placing a hoax device to incite panic, a felony charge that carries a five year maximum sentence, and one count of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. Both pleaded not guilty to the two charges and were later released on a $2,500 cash bond.[2] At their arraignment Assistant Attorney General John Grossman claimed that the two were trying to "get attention by causing fear and unrest that there was a bomb in that location."[18] Michael Rich, the lawyer representing both men, disputed Grossman's claim, asserting that even a VCR could be found to fit the description of a bomb-like device.[18] A small crowd of supporters gathered outside of the courthouse to protest the perceived overreaction by authorities.

Prosecution of Stevens and Berdovsky

At their arraignment, Assistant Attorney General Grossman said “It's clear the intent was to get attention by causing fear and unrest that there was a bomb in that location," [2] however Judge Leary said that it will be necessary for the prosecution to demonstrate an intent on the part of the suspects to cause a panic. The judge continues “It appears the suspects had no such intent, …but the question should be discussed in a later hearing.” [3]

Fans of the show have speculated in their blogs that the quick persecution and harsh criticism by politicians of these suspects is a knee-jerk reaction by the politicians and police, in an attempt to deflect embarrassment over how long it took for them to determine that the circuit boards posed no real danger. The suspects have been referred to as scapegoats, victims of political abuse, and martyrs in the blogosphere. Their refusal to discuss the case outside of the context of 70's hair styles during an interview with the press has garnered some popular support, while angering others. [citation needed]

Public reaction

According to Fox News, fans of ATHF mocked Boston officials during the press conference of Peter and Sean, calling the arrests an overreaction while holding signs supporting the actions of the two. These signs had slogans such as "1-31-07 Never Forget," satirizing Mayor Tom Menino's mentions of 9/11.[19]

Other local Boston residents have been quoted by local papers. "We all thought it was pretty funny," said one student. "The majority of us recognize the difference between a bomb and a Lite-Brite," said another.[20] One resident said that the police response was "silly and insane", and that "We’re the laughingstock".[21]

On February 2, several webcomics referred to or commented on the incident, including Diesel Sweeties[22], Overcompensating, and Thinkin' Lincoln[23]. Something Positive, which is written and drawn by Boston resident R.K. Millholland, also weighed in on the issue.[24]

The Boston Globe stated that the "marketing gambit exposes a wide generation gap", quoting one 29-year old blogger as writing "Repeat after me, authorities. L-E-D. Not I-E-D. Get it?"[25] The G4 television channel dubbed the scare Aqua-Gate, thus suggesting the scare was a scandal.[26] Bruce Schneier, a security expert and writer on contemporary security issues summed up the incident as a "Non-Terrorist Embarrassment in Boston"[17]. Wired News discussed Massachusetts law and the direction of media reporting from outlets such as CNN, and concludes than no one but a "hysterical moron" could "reasonably believe" that the LED placards were "hoax devices."[27]

Other cities

Aqua Teen Hunger Force promotional devices were placed in conspicuous public places in ten different cities. This is one found at the entrance to a MARTA station in Atlanta, Georgia

Ten cities in all were involved in the marketing campaign that took place over two weeks before the problems in Boston. In Seattle, the devices were removed when found by police but caused no major problems. In Philadelphia, 56 of the devices have been confiscated to date, also without incident.[16]

After the commotion in Boston started, officials in New York City began to track down and confiscate the devices with help from Interference, Inc. According to the NYPD, they had received no complaints about the devices.[28] 41 of the magnetic lights were found in the city.[16]

Boston is the only city to date where officials have treated the devices as bombs.

Authorities in Seattle thought that the devices were "obviously not suspicious".[29]

Signs selling on eBay

Several of the LED signs are being auctioned off on eBay, with many selling for 500 to 2,000 dollars (US). Other opportunist bootleg items such as T-shirts, stickers, and even a custom LED sign have been listed commemorating the event.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Smalley, Suzanne (2007-02-01). "Froth, fear, and fury". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e Levenson, Michael (2007-02-02). "Turner Broadcasting accepts blame, promises restitution". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Man held after ad campaign triggers Boston bomb scare". CNN. 2007-02-01. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  4. ^ "Security alert shuts Boston's Charles River". Reuters. January 31, 2007. Retrieved 2007-02-01. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  5. ^ Silverstein, Jonathan (2007-02-02). "As Boston Reeled, Was Artist Asked to Keep Quiet?". ABC News. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  6. ^ http://www.myfoxboston.com/myfox/pages/News/Detail?contentId=2230114&version=15&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=3.2.1]
  7. ^ Powell, Shirley (2007-01-31). "Statement from Turner Broadcasting Co". CNN. TBS Corporate Communications. Retrieved 2007-02-02.
  8. ^ http://www.boston.com/news/globe/ideas/brainiac/2007/01/attack_of_the_m.html
  9. ^ http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/10890113/detail.html
  10. ^ http://cbs4boston.com/topstories/local_story_031135507.html
  11. ^ http://www.wbz1030.com/pages/193899.php?contentType=4&contentId=299346
  12. ^ "Movie News – "Hunger Force" Ad Campaign Causes Boston Bomb Scare".
  13. ^ a b "Arrest Made In Boston's Hoax Device Incident". CBS Corporation. 2007-01-31. Retrieved 2007-01-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  14. ^ http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/mgl/266-102a.5.htm. The General Laws of Massachusetts, Chapter 266: Section 102A½. Retrieved on Feb. 1, 2007
  15. ^ Jamy Pombo (January 31, 2007). "TV Network Takes Responsibility For 'Hoax Devices'". ABC. Retrieved 2007-01-31. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  16. ^ a b c Lothian, Dan (2007-02-01). "Two plead not guilty to Boston hoax charges". CNN. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  17. ^ a b http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2007/02/nonterrorist_em.html
  18. ^ a b Lindsay, Jay (2007-02-01). "Men Held on Bond in Boston Hoax Case". ABCnews.go.com/. ABC. Retrieved 2007-02-02. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,249241,00.html
  20. ^ http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/homepage/8998960763112521727
  21. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16931200/
  22. ^ [1]
  23. ^ http://www.thinkin-lincoln.com
  24. ^ http://somethingpositive.net/sp02012007.shtml
  25. ^ Levenson, Michael (2007-02-01). "Marketing gambit exposes a wide generation gap". The Boston Globe. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Text "accessdate-2007-02-02" ignored (help)
  26. ^ "G4 - The Feed - Articles tagged with "Aqua-Gate"". G4tv.com. G4 Media. Retrieved 2007-02-02. Note also that this naming continues the tradition of calling scandals "-gate" after the Watergate scandal.
  27. ^ http://blog.wired.com/tableofmalcontents/2007/02/did_peter_bered.html
  28. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/front/story/493858p-415985c.html
  29. ^ http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16931200/page/2/

External links

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