Tuesday, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that New York City will name a street in each of the five boroughs ‘Black Lives Matter’ to support the movement.
What Do We Know:
- Each street chosen will be “at a crucial location,” Mayor De Blasio states.
- At this time, only one location has been chosen near City Hall and the other four locations will be determined with the help of city leaders and advocates.
- The reason for the name change is to advocate for a clear message. Mayor De Blasio made a statement expressing, “What will be clear — the street name and on the streets of our city — is that message that now this city must fully, fully deeply feel and this nation must as well, that Black Lives Matter.”
- Protestors in New York City have been protesting for weeks to end systemic racism in policing. As another result of protests, Mayor De Blasio plans to move a portion of the city’s police funding to youth and social services on Sunday.
‘Black Lives Matter’ will also be painted on the street, mirroring the stretch of 16th street in Washington, DC that was painted last week.
This is a beginning. Disparities have pervaded our city and our nation. This is a country plagued by structural racism. This is an economy based on inequality. We're going to fight this back. We're going to create equitable justice. That's a promise.
— Mayor Eric Adams (@NYCMayor) June 9, 2020
