Maine Labor Mural Protest 3/25/11

[roxiejules]

Run time: 05:59 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=snLLzF--INA   Posted on YouTube: March 26, 2011 By YouTube Member: artdad Views on YouTube: 54   Posted on DU: March 26, 2011 By DU Member: roxiejules Views on DU: 2285

 
Several hundred people packed a corridor in a state government building Friday to protest Gov. Paul LePage's plan to remove a mural depicting Maine labor history from the Department of Labor's headquarters.

Rob Shetterly, president of the Maine Union of Visual Artists, told the crowd that the painting depicts the history of Maine's people. "It's a history that gives us the courage to struggle for our own rights today," he said.

Some in the crowd broke into chants during the hourlong rally, including "Recall Paul," "Nazis banned art," and "Who are we? The people. Whose mural? Ours."

Seven speakers addressed the group during the event, organized by the Maine Union of Visual Artists and the Maine AFL-CIO.



http://www.pressherald.com/news/at-the-state-capital-labor-unrest_2011-03-26.html

[onehandle]

1. What a crazy-ass stupid action on his part. Gains him nothing, costs him a lot of bad press.

He could just deal with business, giving them whatever they want right in front of the mural, with nobody saying a word. But no, he has to commit to the petty action.

Walker in Wisconsin could have gotten away with murder, but no he had to grandstand against a group that Will take him and his party down.

Teabaggers have no clue.

[roxiejules]

6. They are pirates

plunder, plunder, plunder...

[TownDrunk2]

2. Maine Labor Mural Protest 3/25/11

What gives this ignorant boor the idea he can order the mural removed at all? Don't the people have any say whatsoever?

[patrice]

3. It IS so deeply heartening to see people standing up for themselves!!

[rucognizant]

10. I drove.....

a 6 hour round trip to be there. My shoulders still ache today!

[roxiejules]

14. Kudos to you for going!

[geckosfeet]

15. Good for you. Where was the protest - Bangor?

[patrice]

16. Thank you for doing that for all of us!!

[democrank]

4. Good for them

[Grassy Knoll]

5. I'm sure the Gov will find suitable replacements......

Posters of Koch Bros, Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Scott Walker and Sean Hannity,
And of coarse St. Ronnie on a cross.

[roxiejules]

7. He put up photos of Reagan

Heard him on AM radio say he had already put up 3 picture of Reagan, but am unclear where they were located.

[rucognizant]

11. The man is thinking impared!

In his local NBC interview yesterday, he actually invited state artists to loan their labor statement paintings to govt halls to hang there....See How democratic he is?
We all have tons of labor social protest paintings hanging around, waiting to be invited to show them,............NOT!
Judy Taylor's website..no protest pix here!

[roxiejules]

19. Here is a link for a local NBC interview with LePage

where he states he would laugh at the protesters if they formed a human chain:

http://www.wcsh6.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=856314011001#/Local/LePage+stands+by+decision+to+remove+Labor+mural/49383985001/49452227001/856314011001

[eowyn_of_rohan]

8. Big K&R

[rtassi]

9. K&R

[sellitman]

12. I no longer think the Tea Party is comprised of people.

The are aliens who have landed from another planet.

It's really the only rational explanation.

[Lifelong Protester]

13. You go, Maine. We are with you here in WI!

[naturallyselected]

17. He'd laugh at them

Something I haven't seen posted here -
When asked by Channel 6 in Portland how he would respond to a human chain formed to keep the mural from being removed, LePage's response was -
"I'd laugh at them - the idiots."
As infuriating as his regressive actions and policies are, it is his utter contempt for those that disagree with him (the 61% of voters who voted for someone else) that makes me despise this pig.

[roxiejules]

20. Here is the link where he said that -

http://www.wcsh6.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=856314011001#/Local/LePage+stands+by+decision+to+remove+Labor+mural/49383985001/49452227001/856314011001

[roxiejules]

18. Why is the Maine Dept. of Labor being investigated???

http://www.dirigoblue.com/diary/2834/why-is-the-maine-dept-of-labor-being-investigated-and-by-whom - via Dirigo Blue

Yesterday, Gov. Paul LePage let it slip to a television reporter that the Maine Department of Labor (MDOL) is being investigated.
Before he could answer questions, the Governor was hurried along to his next appointment. My questions to Dan Demeritt this morning about the investigation was met with, "We have no comment about the investigation."

But questions abound:

Why is the MDOL being investigated?

Who is performing the investigation? The Feds? The State?

If it is the State, which agency?

When did the investigation begin?

What bureau of MDOL is being targeted, or is the Department as a whole being looked at?

And why is the Governor's Office refusing to comment at all?