Story perspectives

Artist's Statue of Liberty Mural Critiques Immigration Policies

12/14/2025

Left

Artist Critiques Immigration

New York City street artist Doug Groupp created "Attack on Liberty," depicting ICE detaining the Statue of Liberty to critique immigration policy.
He plans to sell prints to benefit the New York Immigration Coalition's Emergency Justice Fund.
The piece has been vandalized twice and reflects sentiment against U.S. President Donald Trump amid immigration controversies.
It ties to the deportation of individuals without criminal records and continues public-art political expression in New York City.

Right

Councilwoman Addresses Vandalism

The Upper West Side experienced spray-painted vandalism with 'SMOKE' on more than 30 Columbus Avenue businesses, prompting community outrage.
City Councilwoman Gale Brewer expressed frustration over the damage and its impact on local businesses.
The Department of Sanitation cleaned the graffiti, spending thousands of dollars.
In downtown Brooklyn, NYU officials condemned hateful graffiti found in an NYU library, including a swastika, and police classified it as a hate crime.

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Artist Critiques Immigration

New York City street artist Doug Groupp created "Attack on Liberty," depicting ICE detaining the Statue of Liberty to critique immigration policy.
He plans to sell prints to benefit the New York Immigration Coalition's Emergency Justice Fund.
The piece has been vandalized twice and reflects sentiment against U.S. President Donald Trump amid immigration controversies.
It ties to the deportation of individuals without criminal records and continues public-art political expression in New York City.

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