Transcript: Mayor de Blasio Helps Paint New Black Lives Matter Mural Outside of Trump Tower

July 9, 2020

Mayor Bill de Blasio: Everybody, I want you to hear this because this is such an important moment for our city. First of all, I want to thank the activists who came to Gracie Mansion and said this is something we need to do for New York City, here and all over. Thank you and thank them for all they have done.  

[Applause]

I want to thank all the leaders who are here, all the young people, all the activists for this moment. Listen, here’s what matters – here’s what matters to remember – we are making a statement today of what we value in New York City. We are making a statement of what matters. When we announced – when I announced that we would be doing this here, President Trump said that we would be denigrating the luxury of Fifth Avenue. Let me tell you, we are not denigrating anything. We are liberating Fifth Avenue.

[Applause]

We are uplifting Fifth Avenue. Who built this city, who built this nation, and never got the acknowledgment, the recognition, the compensation?

[Applause]

So, when we say Black Lives Matter, there is no more American statement, there is no more patriotic statement because there is no America without Black America.

[Applause]

We are acknowledging the truth of ourselves as Americans by saying Black Lives Matter. We are righting a wrong. We are saying this is the bigger truth. And it’s not just about words. When we ended stop-and-frisk – Rev, you remember – when we ended stop-and-frisk, we were saying Black Lives Matter.

Crowd: Yes! That’s right!

Mayor: When we ended mass incarceration in New York City, we were saying Black Lives Matter.

Crowd: Yes!

Mayor: When we took money from the NYPD budget and gave it to young people, we are saying Black Lives Matter.
Crowd: Yes!

Mayor: When we say that everyone is accountable under the law, whether they wear a business suit or a uniform, everyone is accountable, we are saying Black Lives Matter. And when we say, with the help of our First Lady, that we are going to examine every part of this city, every institution, every agency to identify the institutional racism and tear it down, we are saying Black Lives Matter in New York City – 

[Applause]

– And Black Lives Matter in the United States of America. Let’s show Donald Trump what he does not understand, let’s paint it right in front of his building for him. Let’s go, everybody. Thank you.

[Applause]

Crowd: Black Lives Matter! Black Lives Matter! Black Lives Matter! Black Lives Matter!