The fact is, these were people who were breaking the law. Attacking a police officer is against the law, so is resisting arrest. No matter what color a person's skin is, in our country everyone is expected to obey the law or face appropriate consequences. I do mean appropriate - I don't believe either one of these men deserved to die for what they did and the police have to find more effective ways to deal with situations like these...but a bunch of self aggrandized spoiled whiny adolescents laying in the street trying to prove a point they understand nothing about is just annoying and alienating. Having the right to protest doesn't mean wherever and whenever people feel like it....the rest of us have rights too....how about that????

Also, I wonder why no one is talking about more use of tasers to control an unruly individual? Why is deadly force the only option???

With all the very talented local artists, why are we selecting out of state artists to create this?
Shouldn't the people of Boulder have a say in public art that contributes to the 'face' of our town?

Doesn't Boulder want something a bit more artistic and subtle instead of a huge red very commercialized "sign" ?

I agree that we the public only get what the media feeds us, but from what I can tell, it seems like a chain of tragic events. It seems like the first and worst mistake was Zimmerman not following the explicit direction not to get out of his car. It's not as if Martin had just committed a terrible crime or was about to cause imminent bodily harm to someone.

Maybe some people who carry guns are more predisposed to that type of behavior?

Boulder, like everywhere else, is changing. We are building more and more multi story buildings that obliterate our mountain views, tearing down old institutions like Eads to build big hotels, and 'mainstreaming' Boulder like there's no tomorrow. I've lived here since the early 70's and seen the evolution which some would call "progress". (Yes, I miss the days when Magic Music and Rosewood Canyon played the Bandshell and Alfalfa's was a little place, tucked away, with a quaint porch to eat your sandwich, and you could see our beautiful mountains from pretty much anywhere in town!). Anyone who pretends we are not a 'big box' town already, has their denial filters up and working. Just because Whole Foods is 'pretty' and has a cachet for some people,doesn't make it any less big box than King Soopers or Home Depot or Target. I am not a fan of Walmart, but I do believe people should have choices. I say, bring it on and let the people vote with their feet.

ps. Anyone who thinks Rite Aid is a discount store has probably never looked at their prices. Astronomical!

Isn't the role of the government to do the bidding of the majority on issues like this? I mean, we vote them in, we vote to legalize marijuana, then they go do whatever they want. Doesn't sound very democratic to me.

I said it requires a "huge amount of time and dedication" as well as 'training and education" , never meant to imply that simply putting in the time is enough.
All we have to do is turn on the radio to know it's not necessarily about talent. The thing is, I often see 'art' of one kind or another, that may not be so great but it's out there because the artist took the time to promote their work and get it to the public eye. There is a ton of really great art (including all the arts) that never makes it to the public simply because the artists aren't promoting it.
Also, it isn't the 'musicians' on the street corners but the 'actors' trying to scam the public.
I wish there were more people making music on street corners though, the world would be a bit better for it.

I had a professor in college that told us, "it's not how good you are, it's how bad you want it".

.....hope your daughter enjoys a life of art!

Artists causing controversy? What a novel concept!

We would indeed become a dead and sterile society without art. We need the creative and the controversial to provoke and inspire - to make a rich and meaningful world. What a hollow type of life experience it would be if we never had music or literature, theater or visual arts?
I agree with Pepper that the artist is not responsible for the viewer's reaction. We are each responsible for our own actions and reactions. Art, like many things, affects people differently. For example, you chose to bash women and people with art degrees - even art itself! Many of us react very very differently (thank goodness!) to women and art, as well as the purpose of art in our lives.

I have a BFA and have supported my family of 4 for the past 25 years. I have paid taxes (with money every bit as good as an 'engineer's), and paid my way through college. I have tried to make the world a bit more interesting with my art in a commercial context, and a more beautiful place with the fine art pieces - which include portraits of children I have created on commissions for many families over the years. Many times the families would hug me and tell me that I created family heirlooms that they would treasure and pass down through future generations. The point is, I probably couldn't have accomplished any of this without my degree. Art, like anything else, requires training and education. It demands a huge amount of hard work and dedication. Yes, there are some very talented self taught artists out there, but most of us need the framework of education as a point of departure.

For you to bash anyone out there who is getting a college degree is unbelievable! At least they're not standing on a street corner playing on the public's sympathies and sucking down the engineer's tax dollars.

This is so messed up. To afford these kids a big break in tuition is a huge slap in the face to every immigrant who has gone through the process of acquiring United States Citizenship. The people who have achieved citizenship have shown a huge commitment and dedication to wanting a better life. They have shown respect for the country they desire citizenship in, by following the laws and process to legal status. I feel sorry for them because it seems like such an insult to give away the rights and privileges and benefits of being a citizen, to those breaking the law.
I am slow to punish the children for the 'sins of the father' , but I just don't think it's ok for these parents to send the message to their children that breaking the law is how to succeed in America.

Spot on, Clay.
In addition to the loss of an innocent and beautiful animal, we are staring police corruption square in the face. Since when is it ever acceptable for a policeman to use his weapon, in a dense residential area no less, and not report the incident? They go on to steal the spoils of their crime and try to hide everything - not only despicable but clearly an indication of serious character flaws not acceptable for a police officer who is supposed to 'serve and protect' the public.

So tired of hearing everything, every issue, rolled back to be a 'homeless' issue.
There are other issues at hand besides the homeless. This elk had absolutely nothing to do with the terrible homeless problems in Boulder.
That is an entire subject of it's own.
This sad story is really about the brutal loss of a piece of the wild. A senseless loss of a beautiful wild soul who dared to enter the human environment, where 'wild' engaged with domesticated humans. It was a gift. Some people got that, obviously the police involved did not.
I believe the vigil was supposed to honor that gift by those people who respected it.
The vigil was also a gathering to bring attention to the terrible, criminal, lack of accountability on the part of the BPD
There is no mockery or humor in any of that.