California Congressman Displays “Muslim Statue Of Liberty” In His Office

A California Congressman has come under fire for displaying this artwork in his office:

Statue of Liberty as a Muslim? Painting in California Rep. Lou Correa’s office sparks complaints https://t.co/eF6NbAQzz4 pic.twitter.com/76zrmsOSr0

— East Bay Times (@EastBayTimes) August 5, 2017

According to the Orange County Register:

A student painting that depicts the Statue of Liberty wearing a Muslim hijab, displayed in congressman Lou Correa’s Santa Ana office, is being attacked as an unpatriotic violation of the separation of church and state by members of We the People Rising, a Claremont-based activist group that advocates stricter enforcement of immigration laws.

 

The group, including several Orange County participants, has asked without success that Correa remove the painting hanging with other finalists from the Democratic congressman’s student art competition.

 

Because of the complaint, Correa said he asked the House Office of Legislative Counsel for advice and was told there was no legal issue. That has not appeased the activists, who are tentatively planning a Sept. 11 protest at Correa’s district office.

Correa sees nothing objectionable in the painting, which comes at a time of controversy over Donald Trump’s efforts to ban the entry to the U.S. of people from Muslim countries and about the treatment of Muslims in this country.

The group wanted to be clear that they have no issue with the unnamed student artist who created the piece, but rather with the placement in a congressional office. “We have absolutely nothing against this young lady,” Hvidston said. “She’s obviously very talented and we wish her the best.”