During the 2004 Republican National Convention , local artist and filmmaker Duke Riley , who has traveled to various abandoned islands around the New York City area , rowed a boat with a friend to the island under cover of darkness , proclaimed it a sovereign nation and hoisted a - long pennant depicting two electric eels from the island 's navigation tower . On their return voyage in daylight , they were apprehended by a United States Coast Guard boat but were not arrested . The entire incident was videotaped for a piece Riley titled '' Belmont Island ( SMEACC ) ''
2004 Republican National Convention
2004 Republican National Convention
U Thant Island