On March 31 and April 1, 2003, seven young men in the city of Sturgis, Michigan placed at least 32 signs around local businesses, schools, banks, the city hospital and post office quoting a line from Zero Wing's infamous English translation as an April Fools' prank: "ALL YOUR BASE ARE BELONG TO US, YOU HAVE NO CHANCE TO SURVIVE MAKE YOUR TIME". Although it was a popular internet meme at the time, residents were not familiar with its origins and took offense. Sturgis Police chief Eugene Alli explained that the signs could be "a borderline terrorist threat depending on what someone interprets it to mean", and reported that the police station received numerous calls from concerned citizens and business managers about the signs, interpreting them as a homeland security threat related to the War on Terror. The group was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, and released apologies to the press.