Campbellford artist’s cross and noose protest raises residents’ ire

[The Straight Story]

Campbellford artist’s cross and noose protest raises residents’ ire

A Campbellford artist celebrated for his design of the toonie has drawn the ire of his community after he erected a 5-metre cross on his lawn and hung a noose from the top.

Brent Townsend knows the display is especially controversial in a town that gained notoriety last Halloween when a Ku Klux Klan getup won first place in a costume contest.

But the 48-year-old wildlife artist, who created the cross out of old barn beams, said it’s his last resort in a four-year battle with the municipality over the planned construction of a bridge. His home is slated for demolition.

“I’m not trying to stoke racial fires . . . It’s a symbol of mistreatment,” Townsend told the Star on Saturday. “It’s not a hate crime. If anything it’s a hate crime against me. I’ve been a victim.”

http://www.thestar.com/news/article/972356--campbellford-artist-s-cross-and-noose-protest-raises-residents-ire

[Scuba]

1. In related news, he burned a Bible, a Koran and a copy of the Constitution.

[SoCalDem]

2. and barbequed a bald eagle

doofus..

[ProgressiveProfessor]

3. Interesting use of symbols...but he is protesting an eminent domain decision

so neither is particularly relevant. Given the issue at hand, I expect nothing but news stories and some hand wringing to come of it.