Even though other news outlets have taken credit, Black Westchester originally broke the story of the controversy of the Manhattan Avenue Mural in The Fairview Section of Greenburgh and the town’s demands to remove the image of the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan. Since then we have given the readers the most indebt coverage, even bringing all parties involved together of a weekly talk radio show, the try to let every be heard and move to a possible amicable solution.
Since are last editorial the Town Supervisor Paul Feiner sent a letter to meet with the artist Kindo Art, only to days later send a second email demanding the removal of the image of Farrakhan or the contract will be cancelled. Dozens of residents, community leaders and activist met for a rally at the Mural on Friday, September 9, 2022, where many speakers including Brother Minister Arthur Muhammad, Student Minister of Mosque #7 in Harlem spoke in support of keeping Min. Farrakhan on the mural.
What could have been a beautiful celebration of Black History and Black Protest has turned into a national story, which has led to a divided community with each side not blinking. The latest development comes in form of a strongly worded latter from the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC).
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) has written to the Town Supervisor of the Town of Greenburgh, New York, regarding its recent call to remove the depiction of Minister Louis Farrakhan, and potentially other “controversial” figures, from a new town-commissioned mural overseen by the artist known as Kindo Art.
It is concerning to us that the Town Supervisor’s demands appear to be based on subjective interpretations and individual complaints. An artist’s freedom of expression is incompatible with a government that forces an artist to modify their message to satisfy individual complaints.
We urge the Town of Greenburgh to help contextualize the artwork, and make clear the intentions of the artists and collaborators, rather than censor controversial material. Furthermore we urge the Town of Greenburgh to enact a review policy for public art which will provide criteria for responding to complaints in a way that is consistent with free expression.
You can read the NCAC’s full letter to the Town Supervisor below.
Greenburgh NCAC by BLACK WESTCHESTER MAGAZINE on Scribd
What will the NCAC do? Will they push for an civil rights lawsuit? Stay tuned to Black Westchester for more on this developing story.
1 comment
i feel that if art is the way for kids to grow and move that the work of art is like kids going to a restaurant and ordering whatever they want or what was on the menu
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