Crime-riddled Washington, D.C. spent over $270,000 to repaint 'Black Lives Matter' on DC street

WASHINGTON, DC - Apparently, virtue signaling is an expensive proposition. After St. George Floyd died while in Minneapolis police custody in May 2020, cities across the nation wanted to show how “down with the revolution” they were and embraced the shakedown organization Black Lives Matter. In the case of Washington, D.C., incompetent Mayor Muriel Bowser had “Black Lives Matter” prominently painted in large block letters on a Washington, D.C. street. 

Under a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request, Judicial Watch has found that the cost to maintain that little piece of virtue signaling “art” cost DC taxpayers more than a quarter million dollars. 

It has been well documented that Washington, D.C., like a boatload of Democrat-run hell holes across the country, has descended into virtual lawlessness. And even Democrat lawmakers are not immune, as Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas) found out in October when he was carjacked at gunpoint in the nation’s capital. 

According to the 25-page document obtained by Judicial Watch, Washington, D.C., taxpayers paid $271,231 to have the Black Lives Matter name repainted in Black Lives Matter Plaza. That total includes $53,551 for paint and supplies and $217,680 for labor. 

“DC crime is out of control, but local leaders continue to waste $270,000 in tax money promoting the extremist Black Lives Matter movement in the heart of Washington, D.C. that is racist, anti–police, anti-American, and often violent,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. 

Among the documents obtained by Judicial Watch was a purchase order from a vendor dated September 15, 2023, with the description “Black Lives Matter Plaza Redo that charged city-based Equus Striping a total of $53,551.20 for supplies. Among the supplies were “StreetBond 250 Yellow-BLM (MMA)”, “StreetBond 250 Catalyst,” and “StreetBond Primer,” plus shipping. 

A subcontractor named Dewberry, tasked with repainting the street, was paid $217,680 for labor. 

Negotiation documents for the project required a foreman, operator, laborer, carpenter, and mason. Equipment needed included a backhoe/loader, portable air compressor, Bobcat, dump truck, pickup truck, and service truck. 

Those documents also showed the initial hourly rates submitted by Dewberry were rejected. Through negotiation, lower hourly rates were offered and signed off on by four Washington, D.C. officials. 

A civil rights lawsuit was filed by Judicial Watch on July 1, 2022, against Bowser and other city officials for First Amendment violations over their refusal to permit Judicial Watch to paint the message “Because No One Is Above the Law!” on a Washington, D.C. street. 

Two months later, Judicial Watch filed a FOIA lawsuit against Bowser, the District of Columbia Department of Transportation, and the District of Columbia Department of Public Works pertaining to records about the painting of “Black Lives Matter” and “Defund the Police” on a city street running in front of the then-Trump White House. 

A subsequent FOIA lawsuit was filed in September 2020 against the U.S. Department of Transportation seeking communication records between the Federal Highway Administration and the District of Columbia’s Department of Transportation over the “Black Lives Matter” painting on 16th Street NW near the White House.