Organizers have added the phrase, “Defund the Police,” to Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s “Black Lives Matter” mural on Black Lives Matter Plaza.
The initial mural was added on Friday morning. After demonstrations took place on Saturday, protesters added the phrase in the exact same place. When members of the city’s Department of Public Works returned to refresh the paint on the initial mural, they left the addition.
Over the weekend, Bowser appeared on ABC’s This Week. During his appearance, she discussed a number of matters before being asked about the addition.
Show this one too.
Retweet this one too.
Be moved by this one too. pic.twitter.com/lWWrap51Wr— tré easton (@treeaston) June 7, 2020
“Well, it’s not a part of the mural and we certainly encourage expression, but we are using the city streets for city art,” she said. She later added that she hasn’t “had the chance to review” the matter either.
The movement to defund police departments is not a new one, but rather one that has gained traction in recent weeks. Most recently, Minneapolis City Council voted to defund their local police department. Meanwhile, cities like Camden, New Jersey have revolutionized their law enforcement services. Since the city defunded its police force, their homicide rate has dropped by nearly 50%, the lowest since 1987.
While certain cities are pushing to reduce funding for their police force, the nation’s capital is looking to increase police funding by $19 million.
