Confronting Bodies: Freeborn County Fair board officials
Date of Action: August 1992
Specific Location: Freeborn County, Minnesota
Description of Artwork: The sculpture, "Pro-choice," consisted of a robed female mannequin nailed to a cross. Scales of justice and a sign saying "Women's Rights" were affixed to the structure.
Description of Incident: In August 1992, Jacob Roth, then 18 years old, installed a sculpture called "Pro-choice" as part of the fair's 4-H art exhibit. Fair board officials called Roth's artwork "gross" and "inappropriate," and ordered it removed. Roth then contacted the Minnesota Civil Liberties Union. After fair official refused to negotiate, the MCLU, with the Arts Censorship Project, sued the fair board, alleging violations of Roth's right of free speech under the First Amendment.
Results of Incident: Roth received a $15,000 settlement from board officials for the censorship of his sculpture.
Source: ACLU Arts Censorship Project Newsletter", Winter 1994