Overview

• The 12-foot, bronze-painted statue titled “Best Friends Forever” appeared near the U.S. Capitol on Sept. 23 and was removed in less than a day.
• Interior Department spokesperson Elizabeth Peace said the display exceeded the permit’s six-foot height limit when its base was included.
• Location manager Carol Flaisher and the Secret Handshake collective say no customary 24-hour cure notice preceded the 5:30 a.m. takedown.
• The group reports the statue was broken during removal and later repaired, and video reviewed by the Los Angeles Times shows workers toppling it in the dark.
• After the artists applied for a demonstration permit to put it back, the National Park Service declined the request without providing a reason, according to the applicants.