LA Councilman Threatens Criminal Charges Against Statue of Liberty Mural

 The following statement is being
issued today by artist Michael McNeilly --
    Murals of the Statue of Liberty have appeared on hi-rise buildings
throughout Los Angeles.  City officials in Los Angeles have cited the artist
and have threatened to file criminal charges.
    Councilman Jack Weiss who represents West Los Angeles and Hollywood,
stated the city should file charges against McNeilly.  "People shouldn't be
doing this. And the city attorney should go after them aggressively and throw
the book at them," he said., according to David Zahniser in the Los Angeles
Times, Jan. 1, 2009.
    "The murals of the Statue of Liberty are an artistic and political
expression protected by the First Amendment. The series of murals depict the
iconic symbol of freedom and liberty and the year 1969, a year of great
accomplishments and change in America. The seeds of the Internet sewn,
Woodstock, Vietnam war divides America and Apollo 11, man's first steps on the
moon. The three colors of the sky behind "Liberty" represented for the crisis
and challenges America faces now, white for clarity in seeing truth and
justice and blue for hope and change. The tear in the eye of Liberty is for
the sacrifices made by our soldiers, first responders and veterans protecting
our security, rights and freedom," responds artist Michael McNeilly.
SOURCE  Michael McNeilly

Brett Caruso, info@liberty1969.com for Michael McNeilly