[PJMEDIA] A St. Louis congressman filed a federal lawsuit today in the removal of a student painting depicting a police officer with a boar-type head, charging the Architect of the U.S. Capitol Stephen Ayers with suppressing the artist's First Amendment rights.
"David’s painting was wrongly disqualified and removed from the public exhibit at the direction of the Architect of the Capitol who shamefully chose to retroactively censor and suppress Mr. Pulphus’ artwork in response to the enormous political pressure he experienced from the speaker of the House and certain right-wing media outlets," Rep. Wm. "Lacy" Clay (D-Mo.) said today outside of the E. Barrett Prettyman U.S. Courthouse. "We contend that action was unfair, arbitrary and unconstitutional."
| The display was on the Capitol grounds. That's regulated by the Congress. The courts have no call to intervene. But they will, of course... |
The annual Congressional Institute art competition solicits entries from high school students each spring. Students submit works of art to their congressional offices, and teams of artists representing the district pick the winners, which are displayed in the Capitol for a year. The controversial winner is from Clay's district, which includes the city of St. Louis and northern areas of St. Louis County. |