Rep. Lacy Clay Hangs Painting In Nation’s Capitol That’s Disrespectful To Police, Promotes Hate And Violence

Congressman Lacy Clay selected this painting to be hung at the US Capitol.

Congressman Lacy Clay Hangs Anti-Police Painting In US Capitol

Washington, DC –  A painting is proudly hanging in our nation’s Capitol that is disrespectful to police officers, depicts them as pigs with guns terrorizing a black neighborhood, and promotes hate and violence. The message of hate if hanging in our nation’s Capitol thanks to Rep. Lacy Clay.

According to Independent Journal Review, the untitled painting represents the civil unrest and rioting that followed the shooting and death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri.  It is currently hanging in a tunnel between the U.S. Capitol Building and the Longworth House Office Building.  The painting was selected in May as part of the annual Congressional Art Competition, on behalf of Rep. Lacy Clay, a Democrat from Missouri.

It’s not known whether Rep. Lacy Clay actually selected the painting but he has praised the painting highly.  In a speech to an overflow crowd of young artists, parents, and teachers who gathered in St. Louis, he said “Tonight, we are celebrating our sixteenth year of recognizing outstanding young artistic talent. As you can see from the artwork on display here, the level of talent is truly impressive. Your work is inspiring, and I encourage all of you to continue to develop your creative abilities.”

The painting features a downtown street scene with the Gateway Arch in the background, three police officers with pig heads, two officers with guns in their hands, and a large group of marchers moving toward the police.  In the painting, the lead marcher holds a sign that has ‘history’ written on it.  The painting also has several signs in it including two that read ‘racism kills’ and ‘stop killing’.  Also in the painting, a man is shown as being crucified, who is wearing a graduation cap and holding the scales of justice in his hands.  The painting is supposed to interpret and represent the months of rioting and civil unrest following the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, Jr. by former Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson on August 09, 2014.

The artist, David Pulphus, was scheduled to travel to Washington, D.C. to unveil his painting, which is described in a press release by Rep. Clay as portraying “a colorful landscape of symbolic characters representing social injustice, the tragic events in Ferguson, Missouri and the lingering elements of inequality in modern American society.”   Rep. Clay has also said that the painting is one of the most creative expression that he has witnessed over the past 16 years.

News sources who called Rep. Lacy Clay’s office for comments today, December 28, 2016, were unable to reach him. Rep. Dave Reichert, a Washington State Republican who used to be a police officer, said that he was disappointed to see the painting hanging in our nation’s Capitol.  He said “It is disheartening to see this depiction of law enforcement hanging in the hallway of our nation’s Capitol where officers work everyday to protect our safety and freedoms. Unfortunately, many people of influence have taken part in promoting offensive and inaccurate caricatures of the very people who do the most to protect our families. While I understand in some neighborhoods trust between police and communities has all but deteriorated, we must work on rebuilding these relationships and focus on our shared goals of peace and civility.”

A senior Republican Congressional aide expressed his outrage over the painting after he saw officers huddled around it, and said in an issued statement “That a sitting member of Congress thought it was a good idea to honor the depiction of police officers as pigs — in the U.S. Capitol of all places — is reprehensible.”  He also said that he felt  incredibly sad that the officers working nearby had to see this on the wall, and that “these officers protect this congressman, his staff, and his office every day, never knowing if it may be their last. The aide also said that Rep. Lacy was “encouraging teenagers in his district to treat police officers as animals. It’s disgusting, and he should be ashamed.”  The aide also demanded that “this hate masquerading as art needs to be taken down now.”

The painting hangs about 25 yards away from the location of the painting are metal detectors where Capitol Police Officers are diligently doing their job of protecting those who disrespect them.

It is reprehensible, offensive, degrading,outrageous, and unacceptable that this painting is hanging in the nation’s Capitol, much less being honored despite its message of hate and violence.  Every law enforcement officer knows that when they go to work each day or night that they may not make it home.  This painting is not conductive to rational discussion and promotes violence towards police officers, whose families should be just as outraged. Shame on you, Rep. Lacy Clay for using your position to promote your personal views in the name of political correctness.  This painting should be taken down immediately.

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