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LAWRENCE - A high-school sophomore whose wall mural depicting Martin Luther King and Malcolm X was ordered erased from a school corridor has been invited to submit an idea for a replacement. Thuan Tran, 15, met yesterday with Assistant Superintendent Mark Rivera to discuss a new work of art, and Rivera asked Tran to submit a sketch to his principal today. The original mural, which was almost finished, was painted over with white paint by custodians last week because it had not been approved by School Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy. Tran said he would offer a sketch, which will be a return to his original vision featuring King but without Malcolm X. "I am sure it's going to be approved; it would be dumb not to," the young artist said. The controversy over the removal of the original mural was first reported on Monday by The Eagle-Tribune. Tran had worked on the mural for several weeks on a wall in Lawrence High Schoo l's Humanities and Leadership Development Academy. Tran had received permission from his principal, Michael Fiato, but apparently Fiato didn't have it approved by Laboy. Soon after, Laboy found out about the mural and it was painted over. Attempts to reach Laboy for comment on the issue were unsuccessful. Tran said he is grateful for Fiato's support. "He did fight by my side," Tran said. "It was out of his control." Students have started a petition in support of Tran, and at least one Lawrence High parent, Maria Figueroa, said Laboy could have handled the situation with more sensitivity. "He should have approached Thuan," Figueroa said, "not just have somebody paint over it in the manner that he did. "He may not see it that way, but it's harmful, the approach he's taken with the children," she said. |
