Patriotic cover-up has Schwarzenegger fuming

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Patriotic cover-up has Schwarzenegger fuming

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LOS ANGELES (AFP) - California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger voiced his anger

at state highway workers who painted over a patriotic mural after deeming it

graffiti.

The former Hollywood action hero was left fuming on Friday after learning that

the 35-foot (10.5-meter) mural of the Stars and Stripes -- painted as a tribute

to the victims of the September 11, 2001 terror attacks -- had now been painted

grey.

The flag image had adorned a concrete embankment near the busy Interstate 680

freeway linking San Francisco with Silicon Valley before it was painted over by

the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) just days ahead of the

July 4 holiday.

" It has come to my attention that Caltrans has recently removed a patriotic and

meaningful flag mural that was painted on the side of Interstate 680 following

the tragic events of 9-11, " Schwarzenegger said in a statement.

" To do so only days before we celebrate our independence and reflect on the

freedoms we are lucky enough to enjoy in America is unconscionable.

" I extend my apologies to the artists whose mural inspired drivers along 680 for

over eight and a half years. "

The artist who painted the mural was reportedly baffled by the decision to

transform the mural into a featureless slab of grey concrete.

" It should not be classified as graffiti, " Noda was quoted as saying by

KTVU-TV. " I mean it was a well-done flag and I felt like it's part of America. "