Graffiti on the building next to the Round Valley Inn
(Redirected from People's Portrait Project, Cop Killer photo)
Date: 1996
Region: North America
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion
Medium: Photography
Artist: Marian Azbill
Confronting Bodies: Mendocino County Sheriff, James Tuso
Date of Action: November 26, 1996
Location: Mendocino County Administration Center, Ukiah, California, USA
Description of Artwork: A four-photo panel that included a picture of a building with graffiti reading "cop killer."
The Incident: The photo panel, Graffiti on the building next to the Round Valley Inn, was removed from the People's Portrait Project exhibit at the request of the county sheriff who believed the picture to be "inappropriate" and offensive in view of the 1994 slaying of the sheriff's deputy.
Results of Incident: The incident sparked protest from arts organizations, civil liberties groups, and from the community. Consequently, the panel was reinstalled a week after it had been removed by order of the Board of supervisors chair Liz Henry.
Source: National Campaign for Freedom of Expression, NCAC
