NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- Self-described "patriot artist" Scott LoBaido of Staten Island took to the open road Tuesday to express his disdain for Mayor Bill de Blasio.
He hung a banner from the Staten Island Expressway's westbound ramp at Exit 13B that depicted de Blasio in a Che Guevara t-shirt, holding up the Statue of Liberty's severed, bloody head. (It's similar imagery to the infamous 2017 photo of Kathy Griffin holding up what appeared to be Donald Trump's severed, bloody head)
"It's what he's doing to New York, he's severing the head of the greatest city on earth," LoBaido told the New York Post.
LoBaido also is angry that a blue line -- a nod to Blue Lives Matter -- he painted in front of the 122 Precinct on Staten Island was vandalized with "Black Lives Matter" written across it.
"That thin blue line separates anarchy from civilization," he told The Post.
LoBaido on Wednesday claimed his banner -- which police asked him to take down about 90 minutes letter -- is responsible for the removal of protesters from City Hall Park early Wednesday morning.
"I am told that yesterday, Mayor de Blasio saw me unfurl my banner of him wearing a Che Guevara shirt and holding the severed head of the Statue of Liberty over the Staten Island expressway," LoBaido said in a statement. "Clearly the message of my banner moved him to finally take action to defend the rights of citizens over the rights of anarchists. Now I call on Mayor de Blasio to fully support the NYPD. It's time for this mayor to uphold his oath to New Yorkers or step aside and let someone else do it."
