Editorial: Lamborn takes on hateful painting in Congress
Americans have the right to portray police officers as “pigs.” The First Amendment prohibits government from infringing on freedom of expression.
Taking full advantage of his right, a recent graduate of the prestigious Cardinal Ritter College Prep High School in St. Louis portrayed cops as swine in a painting of the Ferguson, Mo., unrest. The young man entered his painting in a congressional high school art contest, and the painting was selected among others for display on the walls of tunnels that connect the U.S. Capitol with congressional office buildings.
U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, found himself in the national spotlight this week as one of at least three Republicans who removed the painting from the wall in protest. Each time it was removed, U.S. Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo., returned it to the wall. Clay serves the district in which the artist resides.
“I took it down and walked it to Rep. Clay’s office,” Lamborn told The Gazette. “I was going to leave it with the receptionist and be on my way.”
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michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
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michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
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michael.karlik@coloradopolitics.com
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