Conservative Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) introduced a bill on (Dec 10) to rename Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., after assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The bill is part of a Republican effort to posthumously honor Kirk, who has already had a California street named after him and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Both the House and Senate passed bills to honor Kirk’s life shortly after he was assassinated.
Florida Senator Rick Scott pushed a proposal in October to rename a street close to the White House ‘Charlie Kirk Way.’
After President Donald Trump took office earlier this year, workers removed the massive ‘Black Lives Matter’ slogan painted on 16th St., which is just a block north of the White House.
So now that the street is a clean canvas, Mace believes it should now serve as a location to honor Kirk.
“Three months ago, we lost a champion of free speech and a voice for millions of young Americans,” said Congresswoman Nancy Mace. “Charlie Kirk’s assassination was an attack not just on one man, but on the fundamental American principle declaring every citizen has the right to speak freely and engage in civic discourse. By designating this plaza in the heart of our nation’s capital, we ensure Charlie’s legacy and his unwavering commitment to the First Amendment will never be forgotten.”
It’s not clear whether the bill will get a vote in the House, and it could have a difficult time in the Senate where it would need Democratic support.
Black Lives Matter Plaza
During the 2020 George Floyd protests, the street was painted with large yellow letters reading “BLACK LIVES MATTER,” with the D.C. council voting later that year to permanently name the space “Black Lives Matter Plaza.”
Republicans have long chafed against the signage, which was dismantled in March shortly after President Trump returned to office.
In a statement, Mace contrasted the unrest that followed Floyd’s killing, when the plaza was created, with the response to Kirk’s death, saying the earlier period was marked by “chaos and destruction,” while Kirk’s killing brought “prayer, peace and unity.”