I humbly thank everyone for their interest and concern expressed on Facebook regarding our county’s mural.  I will try to answer some questions.

I regard the mural as the heart of our 1893 DeWitt County Courthouse.  Our ancestors paid for it.  It is part of our heritage to be preserved for posterity.

The State of Illinois dubbed the mural a priceless artifact and took it.  Now the State refuses to divulge its whereabouts.  A mural of such artistic magnitude and historic value should always be the property of the people and kept on public display.  Therefore, we should have the right to know about its present status and location without exception.

The State promised to preserve our mural and display it at all times for the public’s enjoyment.  But, it has disappeared.

In 2015, I wrote to the governor about it.  The attorney general’s office responded by claiming that the Freedom of Information Act absolves them of responsibility to give out information about it.  Can you believe such twaddle?  

Now, the State refuses to acknowledge that the mural ever existed.  The whereabouts of a priceless State artifact should always be a matter of public record.  Every elected official has a sacred duty to serve the people as best they can.

Why should the administrative and judicial branches wish to conceal the truth about our mural if they have acted in good faith?  For your mural, please write to the various government officials.  I have done all I can.  If we do not have the right to know about our mural, then of what rights are we assured?  Can a simple and innocent request for information be ignored by a true democracy?

Thank you,

Roger Joss

Clinton