"The town of Vail, Colorado, agreed last week to settle a federal civil rights lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Colorado on behalf of Danielle SeeWalker, a Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟótaits artist. The ACLU and the law firm Newman McNulty sued the municipality in October 2024 for violations of free speech after the town cancelled SeeWalker's art residency and mural commission due to an Instagram post in support of Palestine."
"The settlement's terms include a five-year commitment to annual cultural sensitivity training for employees of Vail's Arts in Public Places department conducted by an Indigenous-led organisation. The town of Vail is also committed to host and fund an annual powwow organised by SeeWalker for five years. A sponsored community forum on Israel and Palestine, and a newly funded art programme for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged people were also among the terms, in addition to a confidential payment."
Vail settled a federal civil-rights lawsuit brought by the ACLU and Newman McNulty on behalf of Danielle SeeWalker after the town cancelled her art residency and mural commission following an Instagram post supporting Palestine. The settlement underscores that municipal and state governments cannot retaliate against speech they dislike. Terms include five years of annual Indigenous-led cultural sensitivity training for Arts in Public Places staff, a five-year funded powwow hosted by SeeWalker, a sponsored community forum on Israel and Palestine, a new art programme for underrepresented and economically disadvantaged people, and a confidential payment. Officials and experts noted the settlement compels institutional change.
Read at The Art Newspaper - International art news and events
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