Well, Michael has beaten me to the punch, but since Bill is asking for more
information, here it is.

The Phoenix Art Museum is showing a controversial exhibit about the American
flag. Several of the pieces had the flag either on the floor or wrapped around
other objects. One work in particular raised a lot of ire. This one had the
flag stuffed into a toilet and behind bars.

A group of American Legionnaires decided to do a protest march in front of the
museum this last Sunday. It was a peaceful march, unti the group decided to go
inside the museum. A television camera caught some rather dramatic footage as
one Legionnaire grabbed the flag out of the toilet and got very angry. His
friends tried to calm him down, but to little avail. A father and his son who
had also attended the protest, went over to the flag that was being used as a
throw rug in front of the guestbook. They quietly picked it up and folded it
carefully.

The curator who had helped bring the exhibit to Phoenix tried to talk to the
crowd outside at one point, but then ran back inside the museum (from
eyewitness accounts).

The question is now if the exhibit should be allowed to continue for the next
two months (it is scheduled through June). The Phoenix Art Museum is supported
by public donations, but also by the City of Phoenix. The question is, if the
city pulls the plug, will it be an act of censorship?

Anita Cohen-Williams; Reference Services; Hayden Library
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ  85287-1006
Tel: (602) 965-4579              FAX: (602) 965-9169
[log in to unmask]  Owner: HISTARCH, SPANBORD, SUB-ARCH