Some of the paintings in Coit Tower drew criticism because they were perceived as promoting communist and socialist ideals. During the Great Depression, the artworks were produced as part of a government-funded initiative known as the Public Works of Art Project. Some of the murals feature workers and labor organizations. This sparked significant debate at the time, with charges that the paintings were spreading communist propaganda. The most contentious element of the murals was the inclusion of the hammer and sickle emblem that is commonly associated with the communist movement and ideals. There were many threats regarding the symbolism, and even many of the other artists involved felt that there was no room for that kind of symbolism in artworks that were meant to represent the United States and all it stands for.