Opioid Protest Leads To Giant Spoon Left At Stamford Drug Maker

STAMFORD, CT — To protest the opioid epidemic, an 800-pound drug spoon was dropped off at the front door of Stamford-based drug maker Purdue Pharma Friday, leading to the arrest of local gallery owner Fernando Luis Alvarez in connection with the stunt, reports the Hartford Courant.

The sculpture, which measures more than 10 feet long, was created by Boston artist Domenic Esposito and is called "Purdue." Alvarez's gallery is hosting an exhibit, "Opioid: Express Yourself," which opens today, and he told the Courant that placing the piece at the Purdue headquarters was designed to protest against the developers of OxyContin.

In a statement to the Courant, Purdue Pharma said it shares the concerns of the protesters in respect to the opioid crisis, and the company pointed to its public efforts to address the problem.

Stamford police charged Alvarez with obstruction of free passage and interfering with police, and the sculpture was carted away by city workers and held as evidence.

Click here to read the full story on the Courant website.

Image via Shutterstock

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