The Black Lives Matter Washington, D.C. chapter criticized District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser’s pre-recorded speech at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night for being tone-deaf and hypocritical.
“@MayorBowser Hyprocrite morning to you! You literally gave your speech where u had DEFUND MPD paved over. 41 Innocent Protesters where just beat, peppered sprayed & arrested last week. All Charges DROPPED. You or Paint don’t keep us safe. #WeKeepUsSafe #DefendBlackLives #DefundMPD,” the BLM D.C. chapter wrote.
.@MayorBowser Hyprocrite morning to you!You literally gave your speech where u had DEFUND MPD paved over.41 Innocent Protesters where just beat, peppered sprayed & arrested last week.All Charges DROPPED. You or Paint don’t keep us safe. #WeKeepUsSafe #DefendBlackLives #DefundMPD pic.twitter.com/ybk48XFQVq
— Black Lives Matter DC (@DMVBlackLives) August 18, 2020
Bowser’s convention segment, filmed in front of Black Lives Matter Plaza and only a few minutes long, focused on George Floyd’s family and President Donald Trump’s federal response to riots in D.C.
“He sent troops and camouflage into our streets. He sent tear gas into the air, and federal helicopters, too,” Bowser said, reading from a script. “I knew if he did this to D.C., he would do it to your city or your town. And that’s when I said, ‘Enough.’”
While Bowser’s criticism of Trump fit in well at the convention, where many other politicians and activists found ways to fault him, others took to Twitter to express their frustration with Bowser’s hypocrisy, citing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department’s recent “aggressive” intervention at local protests and riots.
“The mayor criticized the president for sending tear gas into the air. Her police department fired chemicals at protesters at the peak of demonstrations, prompting a man to usher dozens into his home and offer milk to wash their eyes,” Washington Post reporter Fenit Nirappil tweeted.
The mayor criticized the president for sending tear gas into the air. Her police department fired chemicals at protesters at the peak of demonstrations, prompting a man to usher dozens into his home and offer milk to wash their eyes https://t.co/scNgtvB6PP https://t.co/pCqRDpnoWV
— Fenit Nirappil (@FenitN) August 18, 2020
Muriel Bowser, a protege of Mike Bloomberg, just presided over the kettling and jailing of 41 protesters at #BlackLivesMatter plaza. She has handed DC over to the wealthy developers who fund her. Her #DemConvention appearance was another hollow stunt. https://t.co/cslF4clgFv
— Max Blumenthal (@MaxBlumenthal) August 18, 2020
https://twitter.com/aaronhuertas/status/1295534273081102336?s=20
Despite her endorsement of Michael Bloomberg in the 2020 Democratic primaries, Bowser offered her support of Biden and vice presidential selection Kamala Harris and called on Democrats to unite.
Bowser also urged viewers to “live those words” painted behind her on the street and “undo the laws and systems that have codified racism for far too long,” but recently received criticism for claiming she does not support defunding the police.
