UI Won’t Display Lynching Mural

1930s-era mural in the former Ada County Courthouse, one of a series spread through the courthouse’s central area, shows settlers hanging a Native American man. (State of Idaho)

The University of Idaho will keep a controversial image inside the old Ada County Courthouse covered for the grand opening of their new campus in July. KIVI-TV reports the mural depicting white settlers lynching a Native American is part of a large painting spread throughout the old courthouse. The University of Idaho, which is leasing out the building as a satellite campus for its law school, has no interest in keeping the mural on display. The associate dean of the college, Lee Dillion, says the mural doesn’t fit well with the school and will therefore be kept covered. But former Idaho Attorney General David Leroy says getting rid of the display could cause problems. The building’s grand opening will be held July 6th and classes begin in August/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Should this mural be trashed altogether?