Missouri Democratic Rep. Lacy Clay called an attempt by House Speaker Paul Ryan to remove a controversial painting in the Capitol by a young artist in his district “retroactive, vigilante censorship.”
Clay’s charge comes after Ryan went on to the Mike Gallagher radio program Thursday and stated the painting, “Untitled #1,” a painting depicting police officers as pigs shooting at protesters in a black St. Louis neighborhood, violated the rules of the annual Congressional art competition and the Capitol architect is now reviewing it after Washington Republican Rep. Dave Reichert sent him a letter with the request.
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“This is not a free-for all contest where anything can go in the Capitol. There are rules that govern this. We see that this does not fit the rules and so we are processing that decision right now,” Ryan said.
Speaker Ryan added, “We have rules of that govern what paintings can go up on here. This one slipped by for some reason.”
When asked by Gallagher if he was confident that the painting would be removed, Ryan responded, “I am.”
Ryan quoted the rules of the competition that say that paintings cannot include “subjects of contemporary political controversy or a sensationalistic or gruesome nature.”
