Trump says Black Lives Matter mural to be painted outside Trump Tower a ‘symbol of hate’

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:

• In a tweet early Wednesday, President Donald Trump slammed New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for his plans to paint “Black Lives Matter” on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue.
• The president called the proposed painting outside Trump Tower as a “symbol of hate.”
• Washington’s 16th street leading to the White House has already been painted with big bold yellow Black Lives Matter and a portion of it was renamed to “Black Lives Matter Plaza.” 

In a series of tweets, President Donald Trump amped his attack on the Black Lives Matter Movement, calling the proposed Black Lives Matter mural a “symbol of hate”.  He also called the “Black Lives Matter” painting on the street outside his Trump Tower “denigrating” since he calls Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue a ritzy avenue.

The President added that the painting “will further antagonize” law enforcement, “who LOVE New York”. 

The series of tweets come as no surprise since the president has always been aggressive in his stance since the start of the anti-racism movement and nationwide protests following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

A recent poll showed that a large majority of Americans support the Black Lives Matter protests against police brutality and racism while in a January poll, 80% of Black Americans believe that Trump is a racist. 

In Washington, 16th Street which leads to the White House has been painted with “Black Lives Matter” in large yellow block letters by DC Mayor Mueriel Bowser and a portion of the road renamed to “Black Lives Matter Plaza.” 

The president even accused Hawk Newsome, the president of the New York Black Lives Matter, as committing an act of treason because of threatening to “burn down this system and replace it” to achieve the movement’s goals.

The president’s sentiments are echoed by Vice President Mike Pence who in an interview with CBS News’ “Face The Nation” said, “What I see in the leaders of the Black Lives Matter movement is a political agenda of the radical left that would defund the police, that would tear down monuments, that would press a radical left agenda, and support calls for the kind of violence that has beset the very communities that they say they’re advocating for.”

Pence also added that the Black Lives Matter Movement leaders are pushing a “radical left agenda, including calling to defund police departments and reallocate taxpayer money to social services. 

This came after New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio moved $1 billion of the police department’s $6 billion annual operating budget to the Department of Education and other social service agencies.  With New York City’s economy experiencing a near-halt because of the pandemic, it is now facing a $9 billion budget deficit. 

Source: AOL