Rep. Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) will file a federal lawsuit on Tuesday against the Architect of the Capitol for removing a constituent's painting that depicted police officers as animals from the Capitol complex, reports thehill.com.
Clay will argue that the painting's removal, which followed outcry from House Republicans and police advocacy groups, violated his constituent's First Amendment rights to free expression.
The painting by student David Pulphus showed a confrontation between black protesters and police officers with guns drawn, depicted as feral pigs.
The Architect of the Capitol later determined the painting violated the House Office Building Commission rules that prohibit artwork of sensationalistic nature or that feature contemporary political subjects.
