Large “Black Lives Matter” lettering recently graced streets in several US cities. In Washington, or in Cincinatti. New York City already has one on Brooklyn Boulevard.
Now another has been added in the metropolis on the east coast – and the choice of location for the painting work is particularly interesting here. Because now the text can be read on Fifth Avenue. Right in front of the Trump Tower. New York Mayor Bill de Blasio participated personally. A clear message to the US President.
Bill de Blasio, Mayor of New York:
“When I announced we were doing this, President Trump said we were denigrating the luxury of Fifth Avenue. Let me tell you, we are not denigrating anything. We are liberating Fifth Avenue. We are improving Fifth Avenue.”
For weeks people in the USA have been protesting for the rights of black people. African Americans remain much more likely to be victims of police violence in the United States as a percentage of their population. The trigger for the recent demonstrations was the death of George Floyd. A police officer had kneeled on the African American’s neck for minutes, and Floyd died as a result.
Trump has been sharply criticized for his handling of the crisis. He denigrated the demonstrators, tried again and again to dismiss them as left-wing radicals, even transferred National Guard troops to Washington, but withdrew them a little later.
The protest movement is far from stopped. And on his next visit to Trump Tower, the president will be reminded of the problems again – with big yellow letters.
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