Detroit Has Finally Unveiled Its Long-Awaited RoboCop Statue, After Years of Red Tape and Setbacks.
In a momentous occasion for the Motor City, Detroit has finally welcomed its long-awaited RoboCop statue to Eastern Market. This bronze tribute to the iconic cyborg law enforcement officer was installed last Wednesday, nearly 15 years after a social media campaign first proposed it back in 2011.
The origins of the campaign can be traced to a tweet by then-Mayor Dave Bing's office in response to @MT (whoever that is) suggesting that Detroit should have a statue of RoboCop. However, instead of dismissing the idea outright, Bing tweeted that there were no plans for such a statue. Little did anyone know that this would spark the interest of a determined fan named Brandon Walley, who launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring the statue to life.
The project took off, eventually raising over $60,000 and commissioned by George Gikas of Venus Bronze Works. However, it was not without its setbacks and hurdles. Despite numerous promises from city officials, the project languished in limbo for years, much to the frustration of fans like Walley who had invested their time and money into seeing RoboCop finally take his place among Detroit's statues.
And now, after all that waiting, RoboCop stands proudly outside 3434 Russell St. in Detroit, serving as a beacon of hope for the city's residents and visitors alike. This is a momentous occasion for the city, one that celebrates its rich cultural heritage and dedication to commemorating iconic figures like RoboCop.
For fans who missed out on the excitement, Detroit Metro Times published an in-depth look at the campaign and its journey in 2021. Now, as RoboCop takes his place among the city's statues, it serves as a reminder that sometimes patience is rewarded with results that are truly greater than the sum of their parts.
In a momentous occasion for the Motor City, Detroit has finally welcomed its long-awaited RoboCop statue to Eastern Market. This bronze tribute to the iconic cyborg law enforcement officer was installed last Wednesday, nearly 15 years after a social media campaign first proposed it back in 2011.
The origins of the campaign can be traced to a tweet by then-Mayor Dave Bing's office in response to @MT (whoever that is) suggesting that Detroit should have a statue of RoboCop. However, instead of dismissing the idea outright, Bing tweeted that there were no plans for such a statue. Little did anyone know that this would spark the interest of a determined fan named Brandon Walley, who launched a crowdfunding campaign to bring the statue to life.
The project took off, eventually raising over $60,000 and commissioned by George Gikas of Venus Bronze Works. However, it was not without its setbacks and hurdles. Despite numerous promises from city officials, the project languished in limbo for years, much to the frustration of fans like Walley who had invested their time and money into seeing RoboCop finally take his place among Detroit's statues.
And now, after all that waiting, RoboCop stands proudly outside 3434 Russell St. in Detroit, serving as a beacon of hope for the city's residents and visitors alike. This is a momentous occasion for the city, one that celebrates its rich cultural heritage and dedication to commemorating iconic figures like RoboCop.
For fans who missed out on the excitement, Detroit Metro Times published an in-depth look at the campaign and its journey in 2021. Now, as RoboCop takes his place among the city's statues, it serves as a reminder that sometimes patience is rewarded with results that are truly greater than the sum of their parts.
cant wait to visit the statue and take some sick pics with it 
I'm beyond thrilled to see Detroit finally unveil its RoboCop statue! It's been ages since the campaign started back in 2011, and it's amazing how far Brandon Walley's determination took it 
. I mean, who needs government red tape when you've got passionate fans willing to take a stand? 
. And can we talk about how awesome it looks?! The bronze detail, the pose... it's perfection 
.
. It's a fascinating read, and I'm glad I got to be here when it finally happened 
!
but then it took years and years to actually happen and i was getting super frustrated 
. i'm so glad it finally happened tho! it's a huge deal for detroit and it's gonna be so cool to see it in person 
. and can you even imagine the photoshoots that are gonna go down with this statue? 
IT'S ABOUT TIME DETROIT GOT A ROBOCOP STATUE!!! I MEAN, 15 YEARS IS FOREVER!!! 
IT'S AMAZING TO SEE HOW DETERMINED BRANDON WALLEY WAS TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. AND THE FACT THAT IT FINALLY RAN ON TIME IS JUST AWESOME!!! 
my god 15 years and it finally happened!! i was one of those fans who got frustrated with all the delays and setbacks 
but you know what? IT WAS ALL WORTH IT!!! that bronze statue is perfection 
it's like a beacon of hope for this city, just standing tall outside Eastern Market 
celebrating RoboCop's legacy and bringing joy to so many people. i'm not even kidding when i say my eyes got wet reading the article about how much Brandon Walley fought for this 
he's literally a hero in my book 
This is definitely going to be a great spot for tourists and locals alike!
. But yeah, a bit of frustration is understandable from fans who invested all that time and money into making this happen 
.