A controversial student painting in the Capitol depicting police officers as pigs was rehung and removed upwards of three times Tuesday following an a special event to return it to the wall.
Meanwhile, Louisiana Democratic Rep. Cedric Richmond, the chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, threatened the Republicans who have been taking the painting down: “We may just have to kick somebody’s ass and stop them.”
Reps. Brian Babin of Texas and Dana Rohrabacher — both Republicans — were the most recent lawmakers to remove the painting late Tuesday afternoon after Rep. William Lacy Clay, D-Mo., had to put it back twice.
The original removal of the painting was done last week by Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., before Clay returned it to the wall Tuesday morning alongside Congressional Black Caucus members.
Then, Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., removed the painting a second time and brought it to Clay’s office before the Missouri Democrat returned it.
Clay put it back up pic.twitter.com/ClY5MjWgCr
— Joe Perticone (@JoePerticone) January 10, 2017
The painting depicting cops as pigs with their weapons drawn at protesters, as of Tuesday night, still hangs again in the Cannon House Office Building tunnel leading to the U.S. Capitol Complex.
Though House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wisco., has not made an official statement on the status of the painting, the office of Rep. Dave Reichart, R-Wash., confirmed to The Washington Examiner the former sheriff will be taking the lead on ensuring its permanent removal.
According to Reichart’s office, the painting does not comply with the rules of the U.S. Congressional Art Competition and he plans on writing a letter to the Architech of the Captiol about it.
Clay says it is now about free speech, not the painting itself.
“This is really not about a student art competition anymore. This is about protecting the Constitution,” Clay told reporters Tuesday morning. “I do not agree or disagree with this painting, but I will fight to defend this young man’s right to express himself because his artwork is true for him and he is entitled to that protection under the law.”
The Missouri Democrat, whose district includes Ferguson, which was rocked by protests nearly three years ago, called the controversy “manufactured” by what he dubbed the “alt-right blog” Independent Journal Review, a viral news site which first reported on the painting.
Clay has said he will file a complaint with the U.S. Capitol Police against Hunter for removing the painting, but told reporters he will not pursue any litigation against his colleague. He has not heard back from police on his complaint, he said.
