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Shia LaBeouf's anti-Trump New York exhibit shuttered over safety concerns

Shia LaBeouf's anti-Trump New York exhibit shuttered over safety concerns

The installation titled 'He Will Not Divide Us' had triggered threats of violence and endangered public safety.
Updated 12 Feb, 2017

A New York City museum has shut down an exhibit protesting U.S. President Donald Trump co-created by actor Shia LaBeouf, saying the installation titled 'He Will Not Divide Us' had triggered threats of violence and endangered public safety.

LaBeouf and two artists had set up a live-streaming camera outside the Museum of the Moving Image in Queens on Jan. 20, the day that Trump was inaugurated, and encouraged members of the public to repeat "he will not divide us" into the camera. The exhibit was intended to continue through Trump's four-year term.

LaBeouf was arrested on Jan. 26 after getting into an altercation with a 25-year-old man at the museum, according to police. The actor allegedly pulled the man's scarf, scratched his face and shoved him, police said.

In a statement on Friday, the museum said the camera had "created a serious and ongoing public safety hazard."

"While the installation began constructively, it deteriorated markedly after one of the artists was arrested on the site of the installation and ultimately necessitated this action," the museum said. "Over the course of the installation, there have been dozens of threats of violence and numerous arrests, such that police felt compelled to be stationed outside the installation 24 hours a day, seven days a week."

The New York City Police Department confirmed it had assigned a foot post to the location 24 hours a day. Police said only one other person had been arrested outside the museum since LaBeouf: a 21-year-old man on Feb. 2 accused of throwing eggs at another person.

On Friday morning, the live stream showed the words, "The museum has abandoned us," in capital letters, an image that LaBeouf shared on Twitter.

A message about the project on its website said, "On Feb. 10, 2017, the Museum of the Moving Image abandoned the project. The artists, however, have not."

Comments

Falcon1 Feb 12, 2017 03:47pm
Stifling Freedom of Express and Freedom of Speech, no doubt under pressure and threats of funding and donations cut-off by Trump. The land of Liberty is not so Free anymore.
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Irongloves Feb 12, 2017 05:39pm
@Falcon1 , Codswallop. The so-called installation itself was a provocation by people who do not understand democracy. The very fact that the boofhead actor was arrested for what amounted to assault was yet another demonstration of the violence of the left who have become the new age fascists.
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ABE Feb 12, 2017 06:01pm
@Irongloves Whatever!!! It takes an extreme right-winger fascist to recognize the left activists.
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Truth Seeker Feb 12, 2017 07:57pm
@Irongloves Agree with ya 100%. Media houses all over the world seem to have sided with this violent form of leftism, ironically to save freedom. Freedom from what, I wonder. What's even more revolting to me is the ever increasing involvement of Hollywood actors in political as well as social matters. Political satire is fine but even that should be taken with a grain of salt.
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