July 15, 2012

Artist paints over Paterno's halo on mural

He adds a large blue ribbon on the late Penn State football coach's lapel, symbolizing support for child abuse victims.

The Associated Press

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — An artist has removed a halo from a mural of Penn State football coach Joe Paterno amid the school's child sex-abuse scandal.

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A visitor points to the spot in a mural where a halo that was above the late Penn State football coach Joe Paterno has been painted over by the artist in State College, Pa. on Saturday.

The Associated Press

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Michael Pilato had put a halo over Paterno's image after the beloved coach's death in January, but said he felt he had to remove it Saturday after a report that Paterno, former university president Graham Spanier and others buried allegations of child sex-abuse against ex-assistant Jerry Sandusky. Paterno's family denies the claim.

Pilato added a large blue ribbon, instead, on Paterno's lapel symbolizing support for child abuse victims, a cause the artist said Paterno had endorsed.

Pilato earlier removed Sandusky from the downtown mural. He said he hasn't made a decision on Spanier's image. Spanier has not been charged. Sandusky has been convicted and is awaiting sentencing.

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