Shai LeBeouf’s Anti-Trump Art Project Gets Shut Down

Shai LaBeouf’s anti-Trump art project has been pulled due to public safety.

LaBeouf publicized his latest art project He Will Not Divide Us on the day that Trump was sworn into office and was to last all of Trump's term. The art collaboration with two other artists in New York City consisted of a camera being placed outside of the Museum of the Moving Image where it live streamed and the public were encouraged to walk up to the camera and chant, sing, or even dance to the words, He Will Not Divide Us. This new project was a way to show solidarity as whole and for the community to express their voice.

Ever since the inception of the political project it was faced with speculation and thus since has been pulled by the museum itself.

The following statement was released by the Museum of the Moving Image:

(NEW YORK, February 10, 2017) — The Museum of the Moving Image has closed HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US, a participatory Internet streaming performance by LaBeouf, Rönkkö & Turner. The installation created a serious and ongoing public safety hazard for the Museum, its visitors, staff, local residents, and businesses. 

The installation had become a flashpoint for violence and was disrupted from its original intent.

While the installation began constructively, it deteriorated markedly after one of the artists was arrested on the site of the installation and ultimately necessitated this action. Over the course of the installation, there have been dozens of threats of violence and numerous arrests, such that police felt compelled to be stationed outside the installation 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

We take our commitment to the safety of our 200,000 annual visitors and 50,000 school children attending programs at the Museum seriously, along with the safety and security of our staff and community.

We are proud to have launched this engaging and thought-provoking digital art installation which was experienced by millions of online viewers worldwide. Until public safety concerns overrode the intent of the installation, HEWILLNOTDIVIDE.US generated an important conversation allowing interaction among people from many backgrounds and with different viewpoints. However, ending our engagement with the installation is the most prudent path forward to restore public safety to the Museum, its visitors, staff, and the community.

Shia LeBouf soon afterwards took to Twitter to express himself.