Americans going about their business on the Wall Street on Tuesday stopped dead in their tracks as they saw an unusual sight- a little girl standing proud and staring straight into the eyes of the 'Charging Bull'- the menacing bronze icon in Manhattan's financial district.
The "Fearless Girl" statue was installed Tuesday by State Street Global Advisors as part of the asset-manager's campaign to increase the number of women on their clients' corporate boards, reports CNN.
A group of women who work together also came to the financial district to see the statue on International Women's Day. "We really like the little girl standing up to the bull," one said.
A man who works nearby said, "I have two daughters and I thought it was pretty impressive that they have this up here."
Others snapped selfies with the girl, or posed for group photos next to the statue.
Anne McNally, SSGA's head of public relations for North America informed that the group has a permit that allows the statue to remain in place for one week, however, they are seeking an extension that would keep "Fearless Girl" in place for a month.
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"After that, it's up to the city. We would be very supportive of a permanent installation as a piece of art," she said.
Fans of the statue, created by artist Kristen Visbal, have started a Change.Org petition asking the city to make her a permanent feature. "I'm signing it because, as a woman, I felt like such an outsider in the corporate world," Ingrid Herrera wrote on the site.
Meanwhile, people on Twitter are using the hashtag #FearlessGirl and are calling for the statue to remain on Wall Street.