De Blasio: 'Black Lives Matter' Will Be Painted On New York's Major Streets
The NYC mayor claims he is 'legitimizing' movement
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New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that streets in all five boroughs would be renamed in honor of 'Black Lives Matter.'
During a press briefing, the mayor said:
“It’s time to do something officially representing this city to recognize the power of the fundamental idea of Black Lives Matter, the idea that so much of American history has wrongly renounced, but now must be affirmed."
De Blasio said his plan to “name streets in each borough and to paint the words on the streets of this city in each borough at a crucial location, one of which will be here near City Hall," The New York Post reported.
The NY Mayor claimed the move would legitimize the Black Lives Matter movement and promote its efforts.
“What will be clear [is] the street name and on the streets of our city is that message that now this city must fully, fully deeply feel, and this nation must, as well, that black lives matter,” he said.
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Gale Brewer, Manhattan's Borough President, said she was the one who suggested the idea to the mayor.
“We actually have the paint, and we have people ready to paint," Brewer said.
"I called the mayor’s office, and I said we’d like to do it,” she added.
“I said ‘I got paint, I got artists, I got architects, I got volunteers, I even got a picture of what it looks like.’”
The news comes days after de Blasio announced he was cutting funds from the NYPD's $6 billion budget.
Petition to Impeach NY Mayor Bill de Blasio Reaches 60,000 Signatures
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Following ten nights of protests, violent riots, and looting, the Mayor revealed that he is taking money from the city's police department and investing it into youth programs and social services for minority communities.
"We need to do a lot more for our young people," de Blasio said during a press conference.
"We will be moving funding from the NYPD to youth initiatives and social services."
His announcement coincides with other Democrats who have supported defunding and dismantling police forces across the US.
Earlier this month, De Blasio celebrated his daughter's arrest during what he described as "peaceful protests" in the city, which has succumbed to violent riots where law enforcement officers were attacked, buildings are damaged, and stores looted.
“I love my daughter deeply; I honor her."
"I’m proud of her that she cares so much; she was willing to go out there and do something about it.”
