Republican Rep. Andrew Clyde of Georgia has introduced a bill that would force Mayor Muriel Bowser to rename Washington D.C.’s Black Lives Matter Plaza—or risk losing federal funding for the District.
On Monday, Rep. Clyde introduced House Bill 1774, a piece of legislation that wants to amend U.S. law to withhold certain federal funds unless D.C. complies with the removal of the “Black Lives Matter” street mural and the symbolic designation of Black Lives Matter Plaza.
The bill would require the District to rename the two-block stretch of 16th Street NW to “Liberty Plaza” and update all official government documents, websites, and materials accordingly.
The 48-foot-wide, bright yellow mural, painted on 16th Street NW between K and H streets, directly in front of the White House, was first unveiled by Mayor Muriel Bowser on June 5, 2020. The mural was paved over in 2021 but was later replaced as a permanent installation under Bowser’s administration.
However, Clyde—who represents Georgia’s 9th Congressional District—has been vocal in his opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Clyde wrote:
“It’s time for our nation to leave this failed agenda behind — starting with the removal of the BLM Plaza from America’s capital.”
A spokesperson for Mayor Muriel Bowser confirmed to News4 that Black Lives Matter Plaza will be renamed if the bill passes.
Photo Credit: DepositPhotos.com
