Wall St. Bull Sculptor Says ‘Fearless Girl’ Statue Violates His Rights

Arturo Di Modica holds a model of his Charging Bull sculpture during a news conference Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in New York. Di Modica and his attorneys announced at the news conference that he's challenging city o... Arturo Di Modica holds a model of his Charging Bull sculpture during a news conference Wednesday, April 12, 2017, in New York. Di Modica and his attorneys announced at the news conference that he's challenging city officials who issued a permit for "Fearless Girl," a bronze statue that faces the bull sculpture on the same cobble stone island in the street, and has drawn worldwide attention. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle) MORE LESS

NEW YORK (AP) — The sculptor of Wall Street’s “Charging Bull” says New York City is violating his legal rights by forcing his bronze beast to face off against the “Fearless Girl.”

Artist Arturo Di Modica (dee-MOH’-dih-kuh) said Wednesday that the new neighboring statue changes his bull into something negative.

He says the bull’s message is supposed to be “freedom in the world, peace, strength, power and love.”

His lawyers say “Fearless Girl” exploits the bull for commercial purposes. They want it moved and are hoping for an amicable solution.

Artist Kristen Visbal’s statue of a girl with her hands on her hips was placed on the traffic island on March 7.

Mayor Bill de Blasio says men who don’t like women taking up space “are exactly why we need ‘Fearless Girl.'”

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