Police Union Reps Want 'Repugnant' Capitol Painting Depicting Officers As Pigs Removed
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Police union presidents in New York City and California are calling a painting on display in the US Capitol "reprehensible and repugnant" and want it removed.
The painting depicts police officers as animals aiming guns at people holding signs that say "racism kills" and "stop killing" can be seen in the piece.
The painting "Untitled #1," by David Pulphus depicts the aftermath of the shooting of Michael Brown. It won a student art competition and was selected on behalf of Representative Lacy Clay of Missouri, according to the Independent Review.
In a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan, police union representatives from four cities in California as well as Ed Mullins of NYC asked Ryan to immediately remove the art from our nation's Capitol.
The letter in parts reads, "This latest indignation, sponsored by an elected official intent on pandering to professional protesters, unfortunately adds credence to a demonstrably false narrative about law enforcement that undermines the safety of law enforcement officers and those we protect. This false narrative portrays law enforcement professionals as posing a danger to the very communities we serve. That is untrue and this "art" reinforces this false narrative and is disrespectful on so many levels."
In closing, the letter asks Ryan to send a message that he supports the men and women of law enforcement and to remove "this stain from our beloved Capitol."
On Friday, Clay's office issued a statement saying, "Members of Congress support student art competitions in our districts but we do not select the young artists and we do not judge the artwork. I had no role in selecting the winner of this student art competition and I would never attempt to approve or disapprove artistic expression. The U.S. Capitol is a symbol of freedom, not censorship. The young artist chose his own subject and the painting will not be removed."
