SANTA ANA, Calif. -- A violation of the separation of church and state: it's what one organization says about a painting hanging in a southern California congressman's office.
it depicts Lady Liberty wearing a hijab, which is traditionally associated with conservative Muslim culture.
The group We the People Rising are demanding Congressman Lou Correa remove the painting from the wall of his district office in Santa Ana, California.
On its website, the group says the painting should not be displayed in what they refer to as Correa's taxpayer funded district office.
the painting was among other works of art entered for consideration in the u-s congress' annual student art competition.
Each house representative sends one work from among their constituent's entries to Washington to be hung in the capitol
In fact, the winning submission from congressman Correa's office is a different painting, one honoring world war two veterans.
The painting of lady liberty wearing clothing associated with Islam is among the non-winning entries on the wall of his district office.
The congressman says register he has no plans to take the painting down, saying to do so would signal it is not welcome.
It's something Correa says would send the wrong message.
