George Caleb Bingham’s 1855 painting “Verdict of the People” has been selected to be present at Donald Trump’s inaugural luncheon in Washington, D.C. in January. We the undersigned express our objections to the loan by the Saint Louis Art Museum and request its cancellation.

“Verdict of the People” depicts a small-town Missouri election, and symbolizes the democratic process in mid-19th century America.  We object to the painting’s use as an inaugural backdrop and an implicit endorsement of the Trump presidency and his expressed values of hatred, misogyny, racism and xenophobia. We reject the use of the painting to suggest that Trump’s election was truly the “verdict of the people,” when in fact the majority of votes—by a margin of over three million—were cast for Trump’s opponent. Finally, we consider the painting a representation of our community, and oppose its use as such at the inauguration.

Art can be used to make powerful statements. Its withdrawal can do the same. Join us in our campaign.