it's not VANDALISM when they do it .....

Subject: it's not VANDALISM when they do it ..... Sat Oct 06, 2012 10:51 am

Quote :: To Sound of Banging Pots & Pans
DPW Paints Out Entire Front and One Side
Of Community-created Victor Jara Work

Library Users Association
P.O. Box 170544, San Francisco, CA 94117-0544
PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: Peter Warfield
October 4, 2012 Tel./Fax: (415) 753-2180; cell (415)735-8963
2/3 of Bernal Mural – Gone
To Sound of Banging Pots & Pans
DPW Paints Out Entire Front and One Side
Of Community-created Victor Jara Work
San Francisco, October 4, 2012 – As protesters banged on pots and pans and blew a whistle, two Department of Public Works workers rolled beige paint over the community-created Victor Jara mural on the Bernal Heights Branch Library this morning, covering over two of the mural’s three sides.
First they painted out the right front panel that showed pyramids – Mexican, Egyptian, and San Francisco’s Transamerica pyramid – and honored the United Nations, planet Earth, and children. Next they painted out the Victor Jara / Holly Near musical panel on the front left of the library, including the poetry in Spanish and English and the names of the singers.
By lunchtime they had painted over the Moultrie Street side’s listing of more than 20 artists who had helped to create the mural, including Arch Williams, who was a member of the Haight Ashbury muralists; Carlos Alcala; Jo Tucker; and Nora Roman, among others. And their paint rollers beiged out what remained of the panel honoring working women – and the people of Bernal heights “pulling down a monument,” which “represents the people … working together to change the social conditions which divide and oppress us,” as the library’s 30-year old opening day description reads.
Nora Roman, whose name is listed on the mural as one of the artists, sent a letter to the City Librarian and other San Francisco officials asserting her rights to 90 days notice under the California Art Preservation Act (CAPA), but the library administration evidently paid no attention.
“Crime in progress,” chanted one of the protesters, and then later, “Crime scene.”
Peter Warfield, Executive Director of Library Users Association which has worked to preserve the mural for the last year, said it was a sad day for the library and for the City.
“This represents cultural, artistic, and historic destruction – and the stealing of democracy for the neighborhood and the city,” he said. Others present to support restoration included Steve Zeltzer of UPWA, and Deetje Boler.
Mr. Warfield said that the mural supporters were considering options for future action.
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source: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2012/10/04/18723101.php

Quote :: Thursday, Sept. 13, we were surprised and disturbed to read a very misleading item in the Napa Valley Register pertaining to our personal friend, Amy Larson.

The article entitled “Woman arrested on suspicion of vandalizing sidewalk,” went on to describe her as homeless and under suspicion of defacing a city sidewalk and other city property. She was booked on suspicion of felony vandalism.

To begin with, she is not homeless. In reality, she was merely using chalk to write “YouTube WTC Building 7” — nothing permanent, or offensive.

Being arrested on suspicion of felony vandalism is absolutely absurd. I recall chalking many a sidewalk as a child to play hopscotch. So, were we children guilty of felony vandalism?

What a waste of police time and tax dollars and a real disservice to Amy and the community. How about addressing real criminal behaviors and stop using law enforcement services to create a tempest in a teapot?

http://napavalleyregister.com/news/opinion/mailbag/chalk-use-considered-vandalism/article_114bfb6e-03a7-11e2-8cbd-001a4bcf887a.html

Subject: Re: it's not VANDALISM when they do it ..... Sat Oct 06, 2012 1:23 pm

those them and us rules again huh?