Montgomery, Alabama, has witnessed the removal of two provocative billboards featuring President Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, which were set against the backdrop of the historic Bloody Sunday civil rights protests. The billboards, intended to provoke discussion around the civil rights movement, were taken down after the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, which sponsored them, stated it had no prior knowledge of their installation.
The billboards were put up without approval from the museum's leadership and were part of a promotional effort for an upcoming exhibit on the civil rights movement slated to open on February 28. Upon discovering the billboards earlier this month, the museum acted swiftly to have them removed, attributing the oversight to a lack of a permanent director for nearly two years.
In a statement following the incident, the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts expressed its confusion over the matter. They emphasized that the billboards juxtaposed a historic image from the civil rights movement with a political statement without providing necessary context, leading to public concern.
“Earlier this month two billboards featuring the Museum’s logo appeared. They juxtaposed a historic photo with a political statement, without context. This has caused confusion and concern.”
Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts
The billboards were created by For Freedoms, a New York-based artist-led organization known for its commitment to promoting free speech and civic engagement through art. Eric Gottesman, co-founder of For Freedoms, expressed disappointment at the removal but also acknowledged the organization's mission to encourage dialogue around controversial subjects.
“We can disagree and dislike what others say but still support their rights to express it,”
Eric Gottesman
Gottesman noted that this particular billboard was crafted nine years ago in collaboration with civil rights documentarian Spider Martin, aiming to "spark conversation, reflection and deeper thinking." He further commented on the broader implications of this removal.
“Part of what makes America great is the freedom to express ourselves; we see this censorship as antithetical to this core freedom and to our mission as an organization.”
Eric Gottesman
Mayor Steven Reed criticized the billboards, labeling them as "antithetical to the core freedom" of self-expression. He mentioned that the city would review how these billboards were authorized and installed to prevent similar issues in the future.
“Decisions regarding public displays reflect a range of considerations, including context, messaging, and alignment with the city’s broader commemorative efforts,”
Mayor Steven Reed
Reed insisted that the removal was not an act of censorship but rather a necessary exercise of the city's discretion over commissioned materials. He reaffirmed the city’s commitment to honoring the legacy of Bloody Sunday and ensuring that discussions around civil rights remain respectful and inclusive.
“We deeply respect the legacy of the Selma to Montgomery March, the impact of Bloody Sunday, and the work of photographers like Spider Martin in capturing that history. The City remains committed to preserving and uplifting this history in ways that are inclusive, educational, and reflective of the community’s collective memory.”
Mayor Steven Reed
The events surrounding these billboards have sparked significant debate within Montgomery and beyond. Advocates for free speech argue that such actions reflect broader issues of censorship in public discourse.
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