New York City is moving ahead with its plans to have a mural of the words “Black Lives Matter” painted on the street in front of Trump Tower this week, despite pushback from the president earlier this month, NBC New York reported.
Citing city sources, the local station reported that the painting of the mural will begin early Thursday. The project, which aims to see a section of Fifth Avenue in front of Trump Tower painted with the words “Black Lives Matter,” is expected to take several days.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Bill de BlasioNYC to start painting Black Lives Matter mural in front of Trump Tower Thursday despite pushback from Trump House chairman blasts Trump's push to reopen schools as 'dangerous' CDC to issue more guidance on school openings amid Trump criticism MORE (D), a vocal Trump critic who announced plans for the project in late June, is reportedly expected to participate in the effort later Thursday.
Though the mural will be far from the first honoring the Black Lives Matter movement to go up in New York, this effort in particular drew the ire of Trump not long after it was announced late last month.
In a pair of tweets knocking the planned project about a week ago, Trump lashed out at the mayor for “denigrating” what he called a “luxury avenue” with the words and took aim at city officials over plans to cut $1 billion from the local police department’s budget.
He also referred to the “Black Lives Matter” mural as a “symbol of hate,” even as the namesake organization behind the popular movement has worked continuously to combat police brutality and racism over the years.
In a tweet firing back at Trump at the time, de Blasio told Trump that “the fact that you see it as denigrating your street is the definition of racism.”
“Here’s what you don’t understand: Black people BUILT 5th Ave and so much of this nation. Your ‘luxury’ came from THEIR labor, for which they have never been justly compensated. We are honoring them,” he also said.
BDHCMDM on July 9th, 2020 at 02:20 UTC »
Trump Tower is now the least desirable building in Manhattan. Nobody wants to buy and people who are unable to unload do so at a loss. Everything he touches really does turn to shit.
Sothisisamericahuh on July 9th, 2020 at 01:14 UTC »
Cool cool cool, but where we at with that whole police reform thing?
muddlehead on July 9th, 2020 at 01:13 UTC »
Manhattan voted 90% against the a-hole in 2016. You think NYC'ers aren't out to get this racist POS.