Public library won't display this artist's images critical of Ford, Trump in women's rights exhibition

A public library north of Toronto is refusing to display an exhibition by a local artist unless it excludes pictures and statements protesting elected officials Doug Ford and Donald Trump.

Photographer and poet Yafang Shi is the creator of Fire II, an exhibition of photographs documenting women's rights marches over several years, set to be displayed on a gallery wall at the Aurora Public Library from March 6 to April 15.

The exhibition was meant to coincide with International Women's Day, but the library now says it won't display her work unless she removes three photos and heavily edits her artist statement. 

"I put my heart into this expression to prepare it for my community to see, so it was heartbreaking," Shi said of the library's decision, adding the library has typically been very supportive of her work.

Shi says the library took issue with a picture of a protester holding a sign saying "Stop Ford!," a picture of a sign reading "Ford erodes freedoms," and a picture of a protestor with a sign that includes a sketch of male genitalia. 

The library also asked Shi to adjust her artist statement to exclude any language mentioning Donald Trump as well as the statements "Without gender equity, freedom is empty" and "Only when the world is feminist does it become equitable, just, violent-free and peaceful."

In an email to CBC Toronto, the library said that because it is a publicly-funded institution, "We do not participate in partisan politics. This is why the reference to specific politicians cannot be included."

Martha Jackman, a professor of law at the University of Ottawa, says the move is a clear breach of Shi 's constitutional rights.

"There is absolutely no question that the library is violating Ms. Shi's freedom of expression, guaranteed under Section 2(b) of the Charter," said Jackman, who focuses on constitutional law in Canada.

Jackman says the library's position is ironic because governments in Canada are bound by the Charter, and given its public funding, the library would be perceived as a government entity.

"It's a publicly-funded, public institution, and so the Charter applies to absolutely every decision that it makes," said Jackman.

The library told Shi on March 6 said she could not include "direct political commentary on a sitting politician."

Shi says that's confusing, as other collages in the exhibition are extremely critical of governments, including regimes in both Iran and China — both the subject of historic recent protests.

"The library said you can include that part, but cannot include the protest about workers' rights here or abortion rights here. It doesn't make sense at all," said Shi.