Many post-office murals from the Great Depression immortalized important historical events. They reflect a specific aspect of the community’s identity while decorating buildings that are commonly walked through in day-to-day life. The Anti-Rent War was a revolt of tenants against their landlord’s oppressive manorial land practices in upstate New York. Mary Earley’s mural Down Rent War, Around 1845 in Delhi, New York serves as a reminder of the enduring struggle for socioeconomic justice, the necessity of community camaraderie and the value of independence in the face of oppression. Earley created this mural as a demonstration of the fundamental American value of independence. By depicting the tenant’s revolt against…show more content… On the left of the image, a police officer mounted on a white horse is reared towards the crowd. The horse’s position suggests that the officer is attacking the Calico Indians. The white horse contrasts against the dark background of the scene. Contrasting coloring highlights the horse and officer coming to stop the protesters. But again, the protesters are unafraid of their incoming challenger. A little boy runs from the right side of the mural towards the crowd, blowing into a tin horn. During the Anti-Rent movement, tin horns were used by Anti-Renters to alert each other of law enforcement officers or attempts by landlords to enforce evictions. The little boy alerts the crowd to the officer on their other side. The presence of a young boy demonstrates how the Anti-Rent movement has affected the entire community. Children attempting to help the cause by using tin horns demonstrate the area's resilience to overcome their unjust landowning system. Earley uses movement to show opposing and assisting forces against Calico Indians during the Anti-Rent movement. The crowd’s reaction to law enforcement, and the young boy’s involvement in the cause, demonstrates the companionship and the resilience
