Ducks in Detention

Artist Karyn Alzayer initiated a creative protest of family separation and detention policies at Boston’s Public Garden. She put chicken wire cages around the iconic “Make Way for Ducklings” statue, separating the baby ducklings from the mother duck at the head of the line, Mrs. Mallard, who was also under a cage. Each duck was swaddled in a shiny emergency blanket of the same type used in detention centers at the southern border.

Ms. Alzayer further explained the reference to the award-winning children’s book by Robert McClosky:

“The Mallards are Boston’s quintessential immigrant family. In the book, they moved here for a better life. They were looking for a place to stay. And if that were to happen during this climate today, this would be their fate.”

The installation has since been taken down, but more coverage appears in Boston’s local NPR story and Boston.com and video reactions from Bostonites, including the original scultptor of the duck statute appears here. (It is not the first time the statue has been adapted for protest; here is an image of them wearing pink knitted hats for the women’s march of 2018.)

MHC