Reverend Billy tries to run away from "Zombergs" during the East Village Halloween parade in 2009.

The crew of "Zombergs" was a creation of "Reverend Billy", a street performer/political activist turned mayoral candidate in 2009 under the banner of the Green Party. "Reverend Billy" (Billy Talen) argued the legality of the incumbent Mayor Bloomberg's ability to run for mayor a third consecutive time.

In 1993 voters of New...
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Reverend Billy tries to run away from "Zombergs" during the East Village Halloween parade in 2009.

The crew of "Zombergs" was a creation of "Reverend Billy", a street performer/political activist turned mayoral candidate in 2009 under the banner of the Green Party. "Reverend Billy" (Billy Talen) argued the legality of the incumbent Mayor Bloomberg's ability to run for mayor a third consecutive time.

In 1993 voters of New York City voted via referendum to limit the possible terms of elected officials to two. Mayor Bloomberg, citing economic difficulties facing the city that only he could deal with, circumvented the voter's will with a behind the scenes agreement with the City Council, which repealed the limits. Under the new rules all elected officials, of course including those in the City Council, could now run for a third term. Efforts to challenge the legality of this vote were blocked. Hence Reverend Billy's characterization of Bloomberg as a being that could not die, an undead zombie, i.e. a "zomberg".

Bloomberg was elected to Mayor of New York City for a third consecutive term in 2009. Reverend Billy garnered less than 1% of the vote.

Reverend Billy is best known for his anti-consumerism stance. Upon his arrival in New York City in the 1990s he Initially focused on the generic commercialization of Times Square. He then branched out to attack what he saw as needless consumerism and the waning local character of New York City as a whole, the result of national chains making their presence felt. To that end, Talen created the "Church of Stop Shopping" with like minded cohorts (his "choir"), performing in theaters and churches as well as staging street protests. He has been arrested numerous times performing "exorcisms" in various stores, favorite targets being the Disney store and Starbucks. A documentary was made in 2007 about his adventures, titled "What Would Jesus Buy?"
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