Arts’ Supporters Protest Over Corbett’s Award From Pittsburgh Opera

May 13, 2012 12:00 AM

(Photo Credit: KDKA)

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PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — A $750-a-plate, black-tie dinner honoring Gov. Tom Corbett and his wife was interrupted by protestors Saturday night. It was a benefit dinner for the Pittsburgh Opera.

Stretch limousines and luxury sedans lined Penn Avenue in the Strip District as opera fans arrived for the black-tie benefit. But they weren’t quite ready for the performance that greeted them outside.

The protestors say the Pittsburgh Opera has no right giving the Corbetts lifetime achievement honors because the governor has been unkind to the arts.

“Last year, he cut $860 million from our public schools,” said one protestor. “The first people to go, all around the state of Pennsylvania were art teachers and music teachers.”

But the Pittsburgh Opera is defending the lifetime achievement award for the Corbetts.

They say the couple has been steadfast in funding for the Pennsylvania Council for the Arts. But that argument hits a sour note with the protestors.

“Hey, hey, ho, ho… Tom Corbett’s got to go,” they chanted.

As for the highbrow crowd that attended the dinner, they weren’t quite sure what to make of the hundreds of protestors who greeted them outside the white tent.

Meanwhile, Gov. Corbett and his wife never came in contact with the opera protestors.

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