A frame grab from a video posted on YouTube shows Laura Lane in front of the Bolger home after a banner had been tied to the porch. (From YouTube/Battle Creek Enquirer)
MARSHALL, Mich. (Battle Creek Enquirer) - A musician and activist is taking credit for hanging a banner at the home of House Speaker Jase Bolger bearing the words "Vaginas are Revolting."
Laura Love, a Washington state-based performer, posted two videos to YouTube on Friday showing her standing on Bolger's front lawn next to the red-on-white banner.
"I just tied this onto his front porch," she says in one video.
Marshall police said in a news release Wednesday they received a report of a banner being illegally hung in the 200 block of West Mansion Street on July 19, a day before Love posted her videos. Police said they were preparing information to send on to city attorneys, who did not return a call for comment.
Rachel Corralez said Wednesday she saw the banner around 3:30 p.m. July 19 while visiting friends who live across the street from the Bolger home. She snapped a photo shortly before she said an unknown woman came and took down the banner.
"I was like 'Oh, someone doesn't like Jase Bolger today,' and then our family friend started telling us that he'd been in a big stink about the word," said Corralez, 25, who was visiting family near Marshall last week but is now back home in Golden, Colo.
The word "vagina" has been stirring trouble in Lansing since last month when two female legislators were banned from speaking on the House floor following a debate on a package of anti-abortion bills. Republicans said the women violated decorum rules during the debate.
Corralez said a police officer arrived on the block soon after the sign came down and questioned her and her friend. The officer was skeptical when they said they hadn't put the sign up and didn't know who did, she said.
Ari Adler, a spokesman for Bolger, said Wednesday no one was at the home when the banner went up.
"As for the incident," Adler said in an email, "the Speaker does not want to let distractions like this keep us from remaining focused on the important work we have to do for Michigan residents. That's why he's considering this a matter for the Marshall Police Department to handle and believes it's best that any official comment on the investigation come from them."
Love could not be reached for comment.
It's not readable in photos or videos, but Corralez said the bottom of the sign includes a web address, www.vaginas everywhere.org. The site is registered under L. Love with an address in Langley, Wash. and e-mail address. Messages sent to the e-mail address and through the website Wednesday were not answered.
By Barrett Newkirk, Battle Creek Enquirer