SACRAMENTO) - The controversy surrounding the display of an anti-American, anti-military, anti-Christian "art" exhibit at the publicly-funded California Department of Justice building in downtown Sacramento will take a turn in a different direction this week. The offensive anti-American art can be seen here:
Anti-American Art Display
Move America Forward, a non-profit organization based in Sacramento, California that supports our troops and their heroic fight against terrorism (website: www.MoveAmericaForward.org) will be organizing a pro-American counter art exhibit, titled, "I LOVE AMERICA" on the sidewalks outside of the anti-American exhibit.
"The offensive material displayed at the Department of Justice building sends the message to the terrorists around the world that American morale is low. Having just returned from Iraq I can tell you that our soldiers and Marines reported that every anti-American news story is used as a rallying cry by the terrorist insurgents as evidence that they are winning the war for hearts and minds," said Melanie Morgan, Chairman of Move America Forward.
"We are not saying people do not have a right to produce and display such offensive art, but it should not be sponsored by a taxpayer funded official and displayed in a taxpayer funded building. Does the Attorney General not have any shame by promoting a display that undermines American forces when we are in an armed conflict in the war on terrorism?" asked Morgan. While the Attorney General has tried to distance his involvement in the affair, Move America Forward has obtained the press release showing Lockyer's sponsorship of the exhibit. Lockyer said he was "honored" to sponsor the exhibit, praising the display's "style" and "beauty."
SEE: Press Release
"Instead of simply protesting that the display is in a taxpayer funded facility, and sponsored by the taxpayer funded Attorney General and California Arts Council, we wanted to do something pro-active and positive. And that's when we came up with the idea for the 'I LOVE AMERICA' art exhibit," Morgan said.
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PRO-AMERICAN ART EXHIBIT: "I LOVE AMERICA"
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The "I LOVE AMERICA" art exhibit will be featured in front of the California Department of Justice building (located at 1300 I Street in Downtown Sacramento) from 3:30 PM to 10:00 PM this Thursday, July 28, 2005. The pro-American art exhibit will be directly in front of the offensive exhibit on display on the first floor of the California Department of Justice building.
Members of the public are invited to contribute their own artwork to the exhibit. Move America Forward asks that entries be approximately 8.5" x 11" and be accompanied with a note of support for our troops serving in Iraq & Afghanistan, either on the back or on a separate piece of paper.
After the display is taken down Thursday night, Move America Forward will pack each individual display, along with note of support to our troops, and will ship them to the men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan as a morale booster.
Already, artwork has been arriving from around the nation. The very first piece arrived via overnight mail from Key West, Florida with a poignant message in support of our troops.
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PRO-AMERICAN RALLY
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Additionally hundreds of people are expected for a pro-America rally that will take place simultaneous to the art exhibit.
The rally will take place in front of the California Department of Justice building at 1300 I Street in Downtown Sacramento (corner of 13th and I streets).
Participants are invited to bring American flags, and signs showcasing their support for our troops and America's heritage of democracy and liberty.
"We want to send a message heard round the world that Americans stand united with our troops and the fight against terrorism. And we want to make it very clear that those who constantly howl about how bad they think our nation is are but a very small minority," Melanie Morgan said.
The event will also be carried live on KFBK 1530 AM in Sacramento from 7:00 PM until 10:00 PM on Thursday, July 28.
For more information on these two events visit www.MoveAmericaForward.org.
Also, details of the "I LOVE AMERICA" art exhibit and pro-American rally will be discussed from 5:00 AM to 9:00 AM each day on the "Lee Rodgers &Melanie Morgan Show" on KSFO 560 AM in northern California and during the evenings from 7:00 PM to 10:00 PM on Mark William's "Night Talk Live" on KFBK 1530 AM.