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Urban Outfitters Responds to Cries They're Taking Banksy Down
Photo by Lisa Brenner/LAist (Do not republish without written consent)
When rumors swirled that Urban Outfitters in Westwood wanted their brand new Banksy painted over, the internet cried foul. Now Urban Outfitters is responding, and explains that it is not the store, but rather the property management of their retail space in Westwood, who wants the "Crayola Shooter" colored over.
Urban Outfitters shared with us the following statement:
"We love Banksy and have been long-time supporters of his work. Banksy: Wall and Piece has been one of our top 20 books for the past four and a half years. We are proud to have his "Crayola Shooter" mural on our Westwood store and are doing everything in our power to convince the property manager not to touch this important work of art."
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But the game has changed: Congress voted to eliminate funding for public media across the country. Here at LAist that means a loss of $1.7 million in our budget every year. We want to assure you that despite growing threats to free press and free speech, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust. Speaking frankly, the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news in our community.
We’re asking you to stand up for independent reporting that will not be silenced. With more individuals like you supporting this public service, we can continue to provide essential coverage for Southern Californians that you can’t find anywhere else. Become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission.
Thank you for your generous support and belief in the value of independent news.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
