Rep. Nancy Mace has introduced legislation in a bid to rename D.C.'s Black Lives Matter Plaza after slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Mace, a South Carolina Republican, introduced the Charlie Kirk Freedom of Speech Plaza Act on Wednesday, which marked three months since Kirk’s murder.
If it passes, the legislation would rename the area of 16th Street Northwest between H Street Northwest and K Street Northwest in Washington, D.C..
Highlights
- Rep. Nancy Mace introduced legislation to rename D.C.'s Black Lives Matter Plaza after slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- The Charlie Kirk Freedom of Speech Plaza Act targets 16th Street NW in Washington, D.C., the current location of BLM Plaza.
- Charlie Kirk was assassinated in September and before his death called for removing BLM Plaza, calling it 'mass race hysteria.'
Nancy Mace wants to rename the Black Lives Matter Plaza after Charlie Kirk
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The area was symbolically designated as Black Lives Matter Plaza in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020.
Floyd was killed on May 25, 2020, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, when police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee on his neck for more than nine minutes during an arrest.
His death was captured on video and sparked protests around the world.
In 2021, Chauvin was convicted of murder and manslaughter and was sentenced to 22 and a half years in prison.
Kirk, who was assassinated at a Utah university in September, had advocated for the BLM Plaza to be removed in a TikTok video in March, branding it as "nonsense."
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He said workers removing a BLM mural symbolized “the end of this mass race hysteria happening in our country.”
"Make America Great Again! Get rid of BLM Plaza," Kirk added.
Mace is now campaigning to rename the building the Charlie Kirk Freedom of Speech Plaza.
"Three months ago, we lost a champion of free speech and a voice for millions of young Americans," Mace said in a statement.
"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.”
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“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.”
In a social media post, Mace described the BLM movement as a “terrorist organization who targeted our law enforcement, rioted in our streets, looted and burned cities to the ground.”
She also shared the video Kirk had filmed at the Plaza earlier this year, writing, “This is for you, Charlie. No one deserves it more.”
Mace’s legislation comes as the executive director of Black Lives Matter in Oklahoma was charged with wire fraud and money laundering.
Mace has introduced legislation to rebrand the Plaza
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Oklahoma, Dickerson had control over the Black Lives Matter Oklahoma City (BLMOKC) bank, PayPal, and Cash App accounts.
Although BLMOKC was not a registered nonprofit, it accepted charitable donations through a fiscal sponsorship with the Alliance for Global Justice.
That arrangement required the funds to be used only for tax-exempt purposes, including posting bail for protesters arrested after the death of George Floyd.
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Between 2020 and 2021. BLMOKC raised more than $5.6 million, including grants from national bail funds.
The indictment alleges that Dickerson diverted at least $3.15 million of those funds into her personal accounts and used the money for personal travel, shopping, food deliveries, a vehicle, and the purchase of six properties in Oklahoma City.
Prosecutors also allege she submitted false reports to conceal the misuse of funds. Dickerson faces 20 counts of wire fraud and five counts of money laundering.