Republican lawmakers have sent a letter to DC Mayor Muriel Bowser to rename “Black Lives Matter Plaza,” the two-blocks in front of the White House, due to the Israel/Palestine conflict.
Bowser had renamed the area during the race riots in 2020 over the death of George Floyd. “Black Lives Matter” is also painted in giant yellow letters down the roadway.
Black Lives Matter has gained new scrutiny in the wave of Israel’s war with Gaza, as most chapters come out staunchly on the side of Palestinians.
The letter, signed by 20 House and Senate members, says that BLM’s statememts and social media posts have been “anti-Semitic.”
“We write to urge you to immediately rename ‘Black Lives Matter Plaza’ and remove the street painting that reads ‘Black Lives Matter’ due to that movement’s celebration of violent antisemitic terrorism,” the letter states.
The letter cites posts from various chapters of the group, including some that “cast doubt on the atrocities that took place on October 7, including the beheading of babies.”
The original reports that 40 babies were beheaded remains uncorroborated, but was repeated by President Joe Biden, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Rep. Elise Stefanik, and many other politicians.
“These posts are meant to delegitimize Israel and rationalize brutal attacks on the Jewish people,” the letter says. “It is hard to escape the conclusion that these statements are motivated by an ugly animus against the Jewish people. BLM Grassroots said the Hamas attack ‘must not be condemned but understood’ as resistance to ’75 years of settler colonialism and apartheid.’ Those 75 years account for the entire existence of the Jewish state.”
You stated after the attacks that you “reject terrorism in all its forms” and that “antisemitism has no place in our institutions, our country, our world or our hearts.” We wholeheartedly agree with this statement. We further believe that movements that celebrate violent anti-Semitism should not be honored by the government with a plaza, especially one located directly outside of our nation’s White House.
The letter continued, “BLM continues to openly celebrate the antisemitic Hamas terrorist attacks against Israel. This stance is irreconcilable with American values. America must clearly affirm its stance against antisemitism, wherever it appears. We therefore urge you to immediately rename the Black Lives Matter Plaza, to remove the associated street painting in the plaza, and to end the city’s celebration of this terrorist sympathizer group.”
Signatories on the letter include, Sens. Marco Rubio, Thom Tillis, Lindsey Graham, Rick Scott, Josh Hawley, Marsha Blackburn and Bill Cassidy; along with Reps. Elisa Stefanik, Jim Banks and Jeff Duncan.
The mayor had not responded to the letter at time of publishing.
