This anger is misplaced. Bowser’s decision, while understandably upsetting to many because the words express a sentiment that is deeply felt in the city, is part of an essential effort to head off rhetorical conflict with the Trump administration and Congress. It is not cowardice, as the mayor’s critics allege, but a practical attempt to protect D.C. from Republicans who are threatening the city’s autonomy for political purposes.
The words were painted in 2020 as a gesture of solidarity with Americans seeking justice for racial disparities in policing after the killing of George Floyd. It was also a symbol of defiance against President Donald Trump, who, in his first term, disparaged Black Lives Matter protesters as “thugs,” culminating in the violent removal of demonstrators from Lafayette Square, just south of the plaza, in June 2020.
But what Bowser understands — and what many of her critics seem unwilling to accept — is that she possesses little power to prevent Trump and his fellow Republicans from damaging the city. Her chief task now is to minimize that damage.
Bowser’s announcement came only days after Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Georgia) introduced legislation that would force D.C. to erase and rename the plaza or risk losing federal transportation funding. Clyde is so offended by what he calls the “deeply divisive” assertion that Black lives matter that he’s willing to deprive the city — 600 miles away from his congressional district — of the resources it needs to function.
And Clyde is not alone. Trump recently threatened executive action to “take over” management of the city over complaints about homelessness and graffiti. And last month, House Republicans introduced a bill to repeal the Home Rule Act of 1973, which granted the city limited self-governance with congressional oversight.
Bowser’s conciliatory approach seems to be paying off. The Post reported this week that the president has backed off his threatened executive order, thanks to “constructive conversations” with the mayor’s staff. This is a victory for the city.
Some residents would prefer to see Bowser go on the offensive. D.C. Council member Brianne K. Nadeau (D-Ward 1), for instance, bemoaned the mayor’s decision as “giving in to bullies.” She added that “Congress has been threatening to take away our funding since the start of Home Rule 50 years ago. We have always fought back. Let’s not give up the fight before it’s even started.”
But there’s a difference between giving up the fight and choosing one’s battles wisely. This moment should not be sugarcoated: D.C.’s self-governance has perhaps never been shakier, and the Trump administration’s mass firing of federal workers is already upending the District’s economy and the city’s budget. It is the wrong time to escalate conflict with Republicans over political symbols.
This is not to argue that symbols do not matter. The “Black Lives Matter” slogan is a powerful call to correct the abuse that Black Americans have disproportionately experienced from law enforcement — and from government in general. But the movement to correct such abuse does not depend on words painted on asphalt; far more important are actions to make protecting Black lives a reality.
The time and energy now devoted to the plaza painting — especially by Republican lawmakers — ill serve the District. Want to really help residents? Focus on the issues that affect people’s day-to-day lives: reducing crime, building affordable housing and creating a vibrant economy.