Clash Brewing on Funding Arkansas Abortion Monument

Work is ongoing to build a monument to aborted fetuses on the Arkansas Capitol grounds. But there is a contentious debate on how best to fund and maintain a “Monument to The Unborn,”
According to a report by Josie Lenora with Little Rock Public Radio, local artist Lakey Goff was chosen to design the monument after she pitched the idea of a living wall of plants to the Arkansas Secretary of State’s office. At a meeting of the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission Tuesday, Goff disagreed with commission members who felt the wall would be too expensive to maintain. Goff pointed out that other cities like Dubai have living walls, feeling it would be easy to build one here. She went on to say that the money would “come from heaven.”
But, as Lenora reported, architect and commission member Tony Leraris disagreed. “Gee, this is a big, big undertaking. And it’s going to take years to get this thing built and raised and then maintain it. Arkansas is as poor as any state could be.”
Goff said the members of the commission needed to change to a more positive spiritual perspective. Leraris said the wall may not work in Arkansas because the state regularly experiences sporadic weather changes. “So, if you think you can pull it off, and heaven’s going to come through with all the money, God bless you.”
Goff swiftly responded to Leraris saying, “Thank you. I receive that. And it will, absolutely. And along the way, this journey, there’s so many opportunities for us all to learn a new way of doing things and to work together, especially if we have different opinions.”
At previous meetings, the design has also been met with a number of logistical questions, as well. The Monument to The Unborn is being constructed because of a law passed by the state legislature last year. It will be paid for by private funds.