(Press release for Washington, D.C. Show)

ASHCROFT URGES "ALL PATRIOTIC AMERICANS" TO VISIT JUNE 21 USA PATRIOT ART SHOW

"You'd damn well better be there!" says AG.

The eagerly-awaited USA PATRIOT Art Show, featuring the works of political cartoonists who have fought editorial censorship, got a shot in the arm from art-loving Attorney General John Ashcroft. Standing in the Justice Department lobby, in front of his beloved semi-nude aluminum statue, Ashcroft took his now-familiar stand for artistic freedom: "I urge all patriotic Americans, except, of course, those who are currently in extralegal detention or who reside at undisclosed locations, to visit the USA PATRIOT Art Show at the Institute for Policy Studies. It is definitely the hottest ticket in town."

This unique show will run only on the evening of Friday June 21 and Saturday June 22 in the conference room of the Institute for Policy Studies, 733 15th Street N.W., 10th floor. It will display works of political cartoonists and humorists from around the country (plus Mexico and Canada) - many of whom are in Washington for the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists convention nearby.

"This show is by no means sanctioned by the AAEC," said show curator, cartoonist Mike Konopacki, "But we'd love it if our fellow cartoonists could see the kind of cartoons Ari Fleischer calls, "wrong as wrong can be."

In the aftermath of September 11, many cartoonists in smaller cities have had trouble publishing works critical of national security actions. Some of them have been fired or no longer retained. Even nationally-known artists, such as Boondocks cartoonist Aaron McGruder, have been dropped from some newspapers for varying lengths of time. "Although it's certainly within the legal rights of editors and publishers to make such decisions," said freelance cartoonist Matt Wuerker, "it's times like these when the country needs to to hear the dissenting voices and a fully aired debate. Isn't that what we're supposed to be fighting for, freedom of speech?"

The AG hinted that DC area art critics and political reporters who don't show up will be facing charges under the USA PATRIOT Act. As cartoonist Gary Huck of Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons warned, "Don't risk a one-way trip to Guantanamo. Put in a well-documented appearance."

Huck/Konopacki Labor Cartoons: huckkono@solidarity.com