Clear Channel cancels billboard art depicting Floyd's death

Clear Channel Outdoor has canceled a billboard order for downtown Minneapolis that featured an artist’s painting of George Floyd being restrained by three police officers, artist said Thursday. Brooklyn-based artist Don Perlis said he got an email Thursday from Clear Channel account executive Beau Ryan saying billboard im was rejected because it “depicts acts of violence.” depiction of Perlis' oil-on-canvas painting entitled “Floyd” was also on a billboard in New York’s Times Square for most of vember, Star Tribune reported.

Messs left with Clear Channel Outdoor were t immediately returned to Star Tribune or Associated Press. art was sponsored by George Floyd Justice Billboard Committee, a group of New York-based artists who raised funds online for billboards nationwide. Identical billboards are scheduled for Atlanta and Los Angeles next month.

Corinne Basabe, billboard committee chairwoman, said art is important in social justice movements. “I think it’s important that we still remember horror of what happened to him that sparked a movement internationally,” Basabe said. “It’s also a work of art. It’s telling truth.”

Perlis' painting shows Floyd on ground, restrained by three officers as a fourth looks away. Minneapolis billboard was scheduled to go up Jan. 11, and was to feature a quote from Martin Lur King Jr. that said: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

Perlis said he was surprised by cancellation, and found it odd that his art was censored after video of Floyd being pinned to ground and gasping for air in moments before he died has been brocast worldwide.“ painting is s, but it’s t violent really. You’d have to kw what’s happening,” Perlis said.Basabe said billboard committee won’t give up and is exploring its possibilities.

(Im Credit: AP)