Georgia Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde is calling for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Plaza in Washington, D.C. to be paved over, the Daily Caller reported. He also plans to introduce a bill in the next parliament that would overturn the capital's autonomy.
BLM Plaza, established by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser in response to the death of George Floyd in 2020, is located across the street from the White House. Millions of taxpayer dollars were spent to close off entire streets, erect barricades to prevent car traffic, and paint “Black Lives Matter” in giant yellow letters on the sidewalks. The street name was also officially changed to Black Lives Matter Plaza Northwest.
meeting Can exercise authority over local affairs in DCreviews all D.C. laws before they become law, in accordance with the Constitution's District Clauses (Articles 1, 8, and 17). Congress can also change or overturn D.C. laws and impose new laws on school districts. This is something Clyde and other Republicans have been passionate about. He and Republican Tennessee state Sen. Bill Hagerty have sponsored a joint resolution of disapproval in 2023 to block the D.C. Legislature's Criminal Law Act of 2022, which lowers penalties for many violent crimes, citing domestic regulations. Submitted. Kohler first broke the news about the bill at the time.
The joint resolution ultimately passed the Senate by a vote of 81-14, with 33 Democrats voting along with Republicans. President Joe Biden ultimately signed the bill. (Related: Exclusive: House, Senate Republicans to launch 'DC Home Rule' vote to block new crime law in district)
People walk down 16th Street after volunteers painted “Black Lives Matter” with permission from the city on the street near the White House on June 5, 2020 in Washington, DC. (Photo by: Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
With Republicans expected to take control of all three branches of government, Clyde believes it's time to clean up the nation's capital, and demolition of BLM Plaza is just one way to do that.
“I think that's what we need to do. There are streets that are closed to traffic. They shouldn't be shut down. There are businesses that are being negatively affected and they shouldn't be negatively affected. Black Lives “The Matter movement itself should be All Lives Matter, not just Black Lives Matter,” Clyde said in an interview with The Caller. (Related: Exclusive: House Oversight Republicans Demand Mayor Bowser Submit Plan to Address Rampant Violent Crime in Capital)
“In that respect, I don't agree with this opinion. And the fact that the city spent about $5 million on it is an incredible waste of money. So, to be honest, the street needs to go back to what it was, a public thoroughfare, and it needs to be paved with Black Lives Matter text,” he continued.
Clyde went on to criticize the BLM movement as “pro-crime” and called it “defunding the police” with no respect for law enforcement.
“We are not a nation that defunds the police, we are not a city that defunds the police, but we are an organization that defunds the police. That's wrong. So we don't have to respect that. I mean, you “If I'm a police officer in the Metropolitan Police Department and I spend every day alone, what does that mean? This city hates me,” he told the caller.
A police officer stands behind a police line blocking a road at the Black Lives Matter plaza near the White House in Washington, DC, on June 24, 2020. (Photo by ANDREW CABALLERO-REYNOLDS/AFP, Getty Images) )
Clyde said he believes he can work with Republicans on the spending side to demolish BLM Plaza and get the streets back to normal. He explained the problem with self-government, saying that the Legislature has legislative authority over the city, and that anything the city approves must be approved by the Legislature first. (Related: Exclusive: House Oversight Republican Kevin McCarthy plans November surprise for DC Mayor Bowser)
“I think we could probably do more of that on the spending side… I think [home rule] This will be the main focus of Home Rule going forward. When the Home Rule Code was established in 1973, anything the city passed was approved and the Legislature had a limited amount of time to disapprove it. It’s a throwback,” he continued. (Related: Senate passes bill to block new crime bill in Washington, D.C., heads to Biden's desk for signature)
“That doesn't respect the Constitution, which says the Legislature has exclusive legislative authority over the city. Whatever the city approves, the Legislature has to approve it. It is not approved until Congress approves it, and it is disapproved unless Congress approves it. Because that's how the Constitution is written, Article 1. Article 8, Article 17 is very clear. And that is not how the Household Regulations currently operate,” Clyde added.
George Floyd looks on as family lawyer Ben Crump (2 right) speaks to the media at Black Lives Matter Plaza after meeting with US President Joe Biden at the White House on May 25, 2021 in Washington, DC. 's younger brother Philonise Floyd (2 left). (Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images)
He and his team are still working on the national rules for the next Congress. Clyde said he would share more details once everything is figured out and said he wants to help President-elect Donald Trump clean up the capital.
“President Trump said he has a plan to clean up the city. We're going to help him do it.”
