Last night a group of peace-loving activists decided to spread their message using sidewalk chalk, a medium constantly used on the sidewalks of downtown Keene, and which can be removed by a light rainfall or lawn sprinkler.  However, according to the always factual Keene Sentinel, when used to apply pro-peace messages to pro-violence monuments, this once harmless and not even semi permanent art form takes on the properties of vandalism.

Central Square defaced

By Kyle Jarvis
Sentinel Staff

Published: Thursday, August 12, 2010

The Civil War Monument in Central Square was defaced with political messages.

The monument, which features a statue of a soldier, was discovered this morning to have been drawn on with sidewalk chalk.

“Obama lied,” and “stop paying taxes” were written in chalk, along with “taxes>theft” and peace symbols.

A peace symbol was also drawn on one of the cannons in the park, and a fuse box had the words “stop paying taxes.”

Several other statements were also written in chalk on the sidewalks in the park, including “innocent people don’t belong in cages,” and “no victim, no crime.”

It’s unclear whether the messages written in the area of the monument are related to those written on the sidewalk, or whether the same people were involved.

The chalk was washed off the monument this morning.

See the article here.

Here are some photos of the beautiful activist artwork that brightened up Keene Central Square.  More can be found at the Keene Central Square’s Nightcap Facebook Page. Here’s a direct link to all the photos.