<p class="p1"><span class="s1">A group of activists is suing Washington, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser over her decision to commission a massive “Black Lives Matter” mural on 16th street. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The partisan display takes up two entire blocks near the White House and is widely interpreted as a message to President Trump. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“There are people who are craving to be heard and to be seen, and to have their humanity recognized, and we had the opportunity to send that message loud and clear on a very important street in our city,” said Bowser. “And it is that message, and that message is to the American people, that Black Lives Matter, black humanity matters, and we as a city raise that up as part of our values as a city.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">In the lawsuit, plaintiffs describe her inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars to fund the mural and to rename the street “Black Lives Matter Plaza.”</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">“The Black Lives Matter banner conveys that black people are the favored race of the city of DC, which is of course a racist contention floated by a racist Democrat who persistently refuses to think logically,” argues the lawsuit. </span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">The suit is being brought by “street preacher” Pastor Rich Penkoski, Tex Christopher, a DC lobbyist and conservative activist, and Chris Sevier, a former judge advocate general. They are </span><span class="s1">asking that Bowser be forced to display support for other groups in addition to BLM. Ideas include: Blue Lives Matter (to support law enforcement), Green Lives Matter (to support Guard units), and All Lives Matter.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1">Speaking with <em>Fox 26</em> host Isiah Carey, Mr. Christopher described BLM as a “cult” and “religion” and accused Bowser of violating the <em>Constitution’s &#8220;</em>Establishment Clause,&#8221; which prevents the government from supporting or endorsing one religion over another.</span></p>
<p class="p1"><span class="s1"><i>New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has already agreed to follow Bowser’s example by painting similar murals in all five of the city’s boroughs.</i></span></p>