Wednesday, January 16, 2013

Supporters of History of Maine Labor Mural win a clear victory

January 15, 2013

RE: With the mural back on display, the supporters of History of Maine Labor mural win a clear victory

To the press and the people of Maine:

We are pleased for the people of Maine that Governor LePage relented and has allowed the History of Maine Labor mural by Judy Taylor to be put back on display in a Maine state building.

This is a clear and decisive victory not only for the First Amendment, the artist and the people of Maine, but for the people who rightly opposed the governor’s seizing the mural from where it hung in the Maine Department of Labor until 2011.

We were very pleased to see that the state acknowledged the mural was primarily paid for by Reed Act funds and that the terms of the act must be respected. The federal government was very clear that it did not approve of the LePage administration’s removing and hiding the mural. The mural’s disposition now complies with the terms of the US DoL’s firm but generously moderate 2011 letter on the matter.

After the last round of litigation, our lead attorney, Jeff Young, suggested the Maine State Museum would be an appropriate site for displaying the mural. We are grateful to new museum director Bernard Fishman and his staff for making the overture to show the mural and to new ME DoL commissioner Jeanne Pacquette for making this possible.

We would like to thank everyone who stood up against the seizing of the mural and stood with us until the ethical, moral and governmental violation was remedied.

There is still more to be done, but this victory marks a great moment for the people of Maine and free speech in America.

Signed:

Robert Shetterly
Joan Braun
Natasha Mayers
John Newton
Lee Sharkey
Daniel Kany
Henry Braun
Edgar Beem
Don Berry
Julieanne Reed
THE MURAL SUPPORTERS WIN: LePage relents. Ed Beem's Yankee Magazine post about the unveiling of the History of Maine labor mural:http://blogs.yankeemagazine.com/art-reviews/maine-labor-history-mural-restored/#comment-3796

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Judge Woodcock's Order granting summary judgment and denying jury trial regarding the Labor Mural

This is a link to Judge Woodcock's order released on March 23, 2012.

The document is posted in full as a pdf.

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

MURAL HOSTAGE VIGIL, DAY 148... Good Morning...

WE'RE STILL HERE --- THE MURAL IS STILL IN CLOSET, SOMEWHERE IN AUGUSTA...AS FAR AS WE KNOW... WE AWAIT JUDGE WOODCOCK'S RULING...

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

NY Times interview with Judy Taylor about ongoing legal battle over fate of mural

News notes about the ongoing legal battle now in federal court about the fate of the History of Maine Labor mural seized by Paul LePage.

The New York Times article also includes an interesting interview with mural artist Judy Taylor.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/07/us/07questions.html?_r=1&emc=eta1

Friday, May 20, 2011

MURAL HOSTAGE VIGIL, DAY 54.... GOOD MORNING! --- FREE OUR MURAL!!!

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=120589621357443
LINCOLN COUNTY TOWN HALL MEETING - TONIGHT IN NEWCASTLE!

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Maine Sunday Telegram: Kany review visits Judy Taylor's show at Thomas Moser

Daniel Kany's review of Judy Taylor's show at Thomas Moser in Freeport that includes the studies for the History of Maine Labor mural and the group show at Frost Gully Gallery down the street which is owned by Tom Crotty - Taylor's most outspoken critic as well as the Chair of the Freeport Republican Town Council.