(CNSNews.com) - Animal rights activists are joined with civil libertarians in suing the
Michael Michael Kors Hamilton Large Tote District of Columbia Arts Commission for discrimination after the commission rejected a sculpture depicting a shackled and weeping baby elephant with a circus sign tacked into its side. The commission is currently sponsoring "Party Animals," an exhibit of painted elephant and donkey sculptures, which is on display at various sites in the nation's capital. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) wanted to add its own sculpture, which the group said depicted the cruel treatment of circus animals, but the commission said no.The commission did accept another sculpture depicting a circus elephant, but lacking the elements PETA wanted to stress.Arthur Spitzer, legal director of the American Civil Liberties Union of the National Capital Area, said the city treated PETA's entry unfairly and is therefore guilty of discrimination."The government's willingness to have a happy circus elephant but not a sad circus elephant in the 'Party Animals' display shows that it is favoring one side of the debate about animals used by circuses over the other side," Spitzer said. "Under the First Amendment, it is not allowed to do
Michael Kors Tote that."Alec Simpson, spokesman for the commission, refused to comment on the situation because it has become a legal matter.However, when it rejected PETA's entry, the commission stated it was not "looking to make any statements" in rejecting the sculpture. Other pieces of the collection do bear messages on issues from world peace to the 2000 presidential election.David Almasi, executive director for the National Center for Public Policy Research, said PETA missed the message when
Michael Kors Hamilton Large it made its entry."These animals are supposed to be whimsical. They are supposed to be something to draw interest and have people want to take their kids around town and show them the public art exhibit," Almasi said. "It's not
Michael Kors Tote Bag supposed to be a political statement. It is not supposed to be a political billboard. Almasi
Michael Kors Tote compared the dispute to a situation in which an artist's work is rejected by the commission."That could be viewpoint discrimination, because what is beautiful to one person is not to another," he said.Jane Garrison, PETA's
Michael Kors Hamilton Large Tote elephant specialist, said her group's only reason for suing is to point out the problem of circus cruelty."We have no interest in stopping the project. We paid our money for a sponsorship, we paid our money for a design and we want our design to be included," Garrison said."Life is no party for animals forced to perform in circuses," she added. "If elephants' cries for justice can't be heard in Washington, maybe the elephant should no longer be used to symbolize democracy."E-mail a news tip to Jason Pierce.Send a Letter to the Editor about this article. Featured Video Horrors! It's Gov't 'Regulated Activity'Scary! Leno Tougher on How President 'Lied' About ObamaCare Than NBC ReportersOTJ: Priest Has Mass Blocked by U.S. Government E-Brief
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