OPINION:
Judicial Watch filed suit against D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to paint its message “Because No One Is Above The Law” on one of the city’s streets. So far, this request has been denied. That’s no surprise. It almost goes without saying that Washington has more than its share of biased, stupid Democratic officials who have allowed activists to paint conspicuous, raw political messaging on 16th Street in the first place.
The recent yellow Black Lives Matter paint job by Marxist activists covers a substantial portion of the street treet and is a glaring example of divisiveness and government run amok. The BLM markings are reprehensible graffiti representative of what patriotic Americans will stand and fight against. Yet this glaring Marxist trash has been foisted on the citizens of the United States as a legitimate grievance for all to see. Well, these BLMers aren’t fooling anyone. Sorry, but Marxism does not represent the ideology or values of the vast majority of the American people. And so the expansive yellow BLM lettering should be removed immediately for three reasons.
First, I am suspicious of the District’s authority to paint its streets with this offensive, anti-American litter, notwithstanding the First Amendment. What’s more, it’s unlikely that private citizens other than BLM and antifa activists would get away with such brazen shenanigans. Second, notwithstanding that D.C. is self-governing, it is still a federal city and the seat of government of the United States, which seem more dis-united than united these days. Since it’s the capital city, I would think the idiots who run the D.C. government would have to obtain permission from Congress, or perhaps from the Department of the Interior, to deface the streets. Third, the many gallons of paint applied to the road in huge lettering that covers the width of 16th Street and extends several hundred yards in length is a safety hazard to both pedestrians and motorists. When this much paint is wetted by rain or snow, it will be slick and slippery to walk and drive on, especially at higher speeds. But I doubt that any of the individuals who permitted this caper considered the traffic and safety hazards it poses.
Judicial Watch would serve the public better by suing the District over the issues I have raised here rather than filing a suit based on First Amendment rights to paint its own message.
JOHN K. LAMBERT
Silver Spring, Md.
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