Contact: Lloyd Marcus, President, Deltona Arts & Historical Center, 386-860-5090

WASHINGTON, Sept. 21 /Christian Newswire/ -- On Thursday, September 7, 2006, Christian artist, Lloyd Marcus along with three other distinguished black conservative political activists sat on a panel to address the Congressional Black Caucus. Each panelist spoke on topics crucial to the Black community.

Marcus spoke on ‘Philosophical vs. Racial Discrimination’. Marcus emotionally shared the story of how three of his paintings were selected by his city’s PR director for their Black History Month display in City Hall. Two days later the city manager and attorney ordered the removal of Marcus’ paintings from the display because of their quote ‘religious themes’.

As president of the city’s arts and historical center, Marcus found himself in an extremely awkward situation. He and his wife Mary have invested four years volunteering and building the failing center into a vital asset to the community. Marcus was ready to ask the city to assist them in purchasing a new larger location. Marcus feared that confronting the city on the banning of God from the public square could jeopardize all that they had worked to achieve.

Marcus sought counsel from his semi-retired minister father, Dr. Lloyd Marcus, Sr. ‘My dad reminded me of the scripture that if we deny God among men, He will deny us’. Marcus realized that the issue was larger than him.

February 2006, Marcus became the eye of the storm in a worldwide Freedom of Speech controversy. Media and talk radio across the U.S. and as far as Japan and Australia covered Marcus’ story. Liberty Counsel filed a federal lawsuit on Marcus’ behalf for the re-installing of the paintings. The city rescinded.

Marcus rejected advice by some to sue for damages and the baiting of the media to trash his city’s leadership. Marcus felt such behavior would taint the victory for Christianity and Freedom of Speech. Marcus spoke at the ‘War on Christians & the Values Voter In 2006’ Conference sponsored by Vision America. Singer, songwriter, artist, commentator and activist Lloyd Marcus is fighting the war on Christianity.

What religious imagery caused Marcus’ banned paintings?

1. ‘3AM’ has a Bible on a night stand.
2. ‘The Christmas Basket’ a man wears a baseball cap reading, ‘I heart Jesus’.
3. ‘Goin’ Home’ is a New Orleans style street funeral with a minister carrying a Bible.

Banned Paintings: www.LloydMarcus.net