Mu Mural News Today

The school, not contribed from somewhere else. and its really a shame that they should have played that called. >> so r.e., why did they eventually back off? >> they initially backed off because i think they underestimated the support we had in our community. had we not had that support, i am pretty sure they would have had us change it and stick to it. >> i want to get to the bottom of this, because i think you said -- i think its you, r.e., and dont get me if i am wrong -- dont get mad at me, ...

Photographer not to step in it. >> get out of there. get out of there. >> this is just disgusting. join us weekdays in "the situation room" from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. eastern, and then at this time every weekend on cnn international. the news continues next on cnn. tonight an aultimatum. we are live for answers tonight in the gulf where the catastrophe unfolds by the minute. arizona front and center in another controversy over race. we are asking two artists who asked them to lighten the schoo...

Of the images. pamela smith and mr. wall are the artists that painted the mural. i love your hats. before we get to the controversy, what are the hats for? >> they are what we consider uniform, its a symbol of pride and service to our community. >> okay. so i thought people would wonder why you were wearing those. i want to be specific about this, about who asked you to lighten the skin tones of the children on this mural? who did it, pam? >> well, they said they had been under pressure from peo...

>> the first command came from them. and then who are the models? where did you pick the models from for the mural? >> the models were children for the school. they had contests to see who would win and who would be chosen to pose for us. >> r.e., when you found out about it, what was your response? did you say i was not going to do it or did you consider it? >> no, i never seriously considered it. as an artist, myself and pamela, we had the picture fully under control. we were trying to depict ...

Constituents on his show. the person replaced him is still pushing for today the removal of the mural, and they are trying to get away from the racists issue but trying to destroy the mural at this point. >> we have a apology from him. he said last week i was fired from my job for asking a question and now i admit the question was poorly worded in retrospect, and it was offensive to some and to those that i offend offended, i simply apologize. its two-pages. if you guys hear more or if there are...

The operation switched from a rescue operation to a recovery operation, and it will go on until dark tonight. don. >> casey, thank you very much. with the oil disaster in the gulf, if these pictures are worth 1,000 words, well show you how much they are worth in bringing about change to protect them. also in a city where racial tensions are on the rise, a mural meant to ease things has the opposite affects after the artists is asked to lighten the skin of the subjects. well tell you about ...

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