Posters prohibited in NYC
Date: 1994
Region: North America
Subject: Political/Economic/Social Opinion, Sexual/Gender Orientation
Medium: Public Art
Artist: Humanist Movement
Confronting Bodies: City of New York
Dates of Action: 05/09/94; 01/09/94; 10/09/94
Location: Manhattan, New York
Description of Artwork: Posters inviting neighbors to participate in community activities; two community newspapers and a poetry reading.
The Incident: Case #1: New York "sanitation" police stops person taping poster to telephone booth, issues summons for $50. Poster was invitation to write in community newspaper. Case #2: New York "sanitation" police tracks author of posters using phone number, knocks on his door, issues three summonses for $50 each. Poster was invitation to write in community newspaper. Case #3: New York "sanitation" police delivers five summonses to owner of restaurant hosting a poetry reading. Owner lent space to neighbors, who put up the posters.
Results of Incident: Case #1: Person paid $50 fine. Case #2: Eight people, publishers of eight community newspaper, went to fight the summonses in a hearing. Finding there was no other way out, and knowing a the law cannot be enforced without proof, they denied having put up the posters, and the case was dismissed. Case #3: not yet resolved, first hearing was unresolved andadjourned.
Source: Michael Howard (NY, NY)