Student art piece commenting on police violence removed from Maryland school

[Tommy_Carcetti]

http://www.myfoxdc.com/story/29279893/art-display-pulled

OXON HILL, Md. - An art exhibit has been pulled from the lobby of a Prince George's County high school after the school received complaints that it was offensive.

Honors students at Oxon Hill High School were given an assignment to create a display that shows what social justice means to them. The exhibit was in the school's lobby for weeks. It was taken down on Monday.

The display featured a white police officer reading an obituary section. Next to that was a figure of a black man in a blood-stained shirt with his hands up.

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"It's honestly what the kids think. It's what they see, man. And it's pretty much what they feel," said resident Dwayne Shafer.

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I think the piece is rather striking and was not intended to offend, only to make a social commentary.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

1. As art, I like that.

It has a message, and one that's hard to miss. If a typical picture is worth a thousand words, that installation is worth several thousand.

[daleanime]

13. +1

[nc4bo]

2. We must not talk about the elephant in the rooms of so many.

And we tell our kids to just shut up, do what you're told and learn to be good, obedient worker bees.

We must not question injustices or mistreatment bestowed upon us by authority.

Racism, police brutality and bigotry are too toxic a subject to be discussed by children......even if they've witnessed it on tv or firsthand.

This school just blew the perfect opportunity to open up a discussion.

[surrealAmerican]

3. Good job, students.

It's a very effective display.

[blackspade]

4. Good job authoritarians....

Way to prove the artist's point.

[appalachiablue]

5. It's creative, effective and has a very important message that kids are concerned

about justifiably. Well done and let it be I say.

[DamnYankeeInHouston]

6. That's awesome. Kudos to the kid.

[deutsey]

7. It ended up being more of an education for the students

than expected.

[Cryptoad]

8. Hah,,,,,,Money cant buy this kinda Promotion,,,,,!

THX

[gregcrawford]

9. The T-shirt is a brilliant piece of design

It would work, maybe even better, without the cop silhouette. Too bad narrow-minded jerks couldn't comprehend the message.

[Chellee]

16. The t-shirt is really well done.

I wish I could see what is written on the pants. The article didn't say, and it's the only article I could find.

Art is supposed to make you think and feel. Nobody said that what you think has to be pleasant, and what you feel has to be good.

[Fred Sanders]

10. Police violence is just the tip of the violence iceberg in America.

Police violence, media violence, gun violence, political violence, religious violence, a military dedicated to world violence, violent rhetoric, violent politicians...America is soaked in violence.

America is a violent nation, ruled and led and goaded into violence by a violence loving media.

[mountain grammy]

11. Censorship of truth.. not a good message to send

to young people, but they might as well learn early.

[valerief]

12. Probably just one white racist asshole complained. nt

[Chellee]

17. The video said the complaints came from "public safety officials."

The Fox channel's Facebook page was full of foaming at the mouth racist assholes though.

[awoke_in_2003]

19. Yep, pissed off a cop. nt

[uppityperson]

14. I'm offended that you have to be so afraid of cops, especially if they are white and you aren't.

[ProfessorGAC]

15. I'm Offended By The Shooting Of Unarmed People

So, between you and me, they can put that display right back up.

[Left coast liberal]

18. Wimps... who cares if it offends. Art isn't supposed to make people comfortable...

[kwassa]

20. As an art teacher that lives not too far away ....

the T-shirt is an indelible image. I expect to see that marketed soon, everywhere.

The artist should copyright it NOW.