OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (AP) – A group seeking to have a bare-breasted statue removed from the Overland Park Arboretum says it has collected enough signatures to force a judge to convene a grand jury.

The American Family Association of Kansas and Missouri says the statue promotes obscenity to children in violation of state law.

Association director Phillip Cosby says the more than 4,500 signatures will be filed with the court Sept. 4 unless the Overland Park City Council acts to remove the statue.

The life-size bronze sculpture depicts a woman wearing an opened blouse, her breasts exposed, taking a photograph of herself. It is among 11 artworks donated to the arboretum by a group of Chinese artists.

Objectors say the statue has no place in a park frequented by young children. The city says it’s up to the courts to decide if the statue is obscene.

Click to view a Kansas City Star report with images of the statue in question: http://joco913.com/news/overland-park-refuses-to-remove-statue-petition-drive-launched/

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