Chicken slaughter art project ruffles feathers

The Associated Press, Tuesday, February 28, 2012, 8:30am (PST)

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) -- Officials have banned an artist from publicly slaughtering chickens in eastern Kansas, saying the proposed art installation would amount to animal cruelty.

Lawrence city officials say Amber Hansen's project, "The Story of Chickens: A Revolution," would violate city ordinances and that she could be fined $1,000.

Hansen had planned to display coops of chickens across Lawrence. The exhibit was to end with the birds being killed and served as a meal. She says she wanted to demonstrate the animal slaughter process to meat eaters.

Assistant City Attorney Chad Sublet says the city weighed freedom of expression against health and safety concerns in reaching the decision.

Hansen told the Lawrence Journal-World ( http://bit.ly/xVgis0) that she won't fight the order and will change the art project to comply with city rules.

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Information from: Lawrence Journal-World, http://www.ljworld.com