A quaint little town has been embroiled in a bitter dispute as some locals claim new murals erected there contain “subversive messaging”.
The murals, located in Littleton, New Hampshire, were put up last year and feature vibrant trees, stars, and flowers, including what seems to be a dandelion.
A local nonprofit that commissioned the artworks said they were intended to “beautify blighted properties” and foster a more inclusive atmosphere.
But the state senator Carrie Gendreau, who is an evangelical Christian with controversial views regarding LGBTQ rights, has voiced concerns over their content, especially one containing a rainbow.
Speaking at a local meeting about the murals last year, she warned board members: “We need to be very careful”, and encouraged residents to “research what the mural really means. I don’t want that to be in our town”.
But the locals have varying opinions on the new artwork.
Kerri Harrington, an acupuncturist who had previously respected Gendreau’s views, told the New York Times: “I knew our politics were different, I knew she was religious, but there are a lot of religious people here.
“This was the first time I realised she had that agenda.”
After engaging in a conversation with Gendreau about the mural, she revealed that the state senator recommended her to read ‘The Return of the Gods,’ by Jonathan Cahn.
Cahn, a renowned doomsday evangelist and best-selling author, prophesies America’s descent into evil, citing gay rights as an example of moral decay.
Littleton residents had coexisted peacefully despite their political differences, but the incident appears to have created a rift in the community.
However, most locals seem to disagree with Gendreau’s strong views, with many reportedly inundating the local newspaper with letters expressing their anger at her comments.
Gendreau, who has received calls from all over the world criticising her views, has decided not to run for re-election, stating that God didn’t want her to continue serving on the board.
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