Rep. Nancy Mace hase introduced a bill that would rename the former “Black Lives Matter Plaza” just north of the White House after assassinated conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
The South Carolina Republican’s proposal would dedicate a small strip of 16th Street NW as “Charlie Kirk Freedom of Speech Plaza” in honor of the former thought leader who was gunned down during a campus speaking event.
“Today marks three months since Charlie Kirk was assassinated in cold blood,” Ms. Mace said in announcing the bill. “He was a peaceful leader who stood for free speech, open conversation, faith and family values.”
D.C. leaders first designated that portion of 16th Street as “Black Lives Matter Plaza” in 2020 amid nationwide protests after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd, a Black man.
Ms. Mace said the Black Lives Matter protests wrought “chaos and destruction” compared to the “prayer, peace and unity” that emerged following Kirk’s death.
“The BLM movement is a terrorist organization who targeted our law enforcement, rioted in our streets, looted and burned cities to the ground,” Ms. Mace said.
The bill would require official signs to be erected on the plaza and for federal records and maps to be updated with the new name.
The new name would need to take effect 90 days after the legislation is signed into law.
