The Latest: Kobach wants flag display out of art museum

TOPEKA, Kan. – The Latest on an art display involving an altered flag at the University of Kansas (all times local):

1:22 p.m.

Kansas Secretary of State and candidate for governor Kris Kobach is telling the University of Kansas to remove from the Spencer Museum of Art an art display featuring an altered American flag.

The display, which had flown on a flag pole on the Lawrence campus, was taken down Wednesday and moved to the museum after Kobach, Gov. Jeff Colyer and other Republican political candidates complained that it was disrespectful.

Kansas Chancellor Doug Girod said in a statement that the display, which was part of a national art project called “Pledges of Allegiance,” caused conversations on Wednesday that generated public safety concerns. He didn’t elaborate.

Kobach, who is running against Colyer in the GOP primary, said Colyer’s demand that the flag be taken down didn’t solve the problem.

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10 a.m.

Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer has ordered additional American flags flown outside the Statehouse in response to a university’s now-relocated public art display featuring an altered flag.

Colyer spokesman Kendall Marr said the Republican governor ordered the 19 additional flags to go up Wednesday afternoon on the north and south sides of the Statehouse grounds. The state also displays extra flags on holidays such as Flag Day.

Marr said the governor wanted to show support for the flag and its proper display.

A national art project called “Pledges of Allegiance” at the University of Kansas featured the flying of an altered flag outside a building.

Colyer others strongly criticized the display as disrespectful. The governor demanded that the altered flag be taken down. The university moved it to an art museum.