Graffiti has largely been the work of left-wing activists promoting their causes and street gangs marking their territories – and a few freelancing artists.  Most communities have laws against defacing public and private property.  In Chicago, owners of property marked by graffiti are required to have it removed because it degrades a community and hurts business and retail business.  Some communities have even banned the sale of spray paint in order to curtail graffiti.

The massive graffiti we see during these days of protests may not rise to the level of arson and looting and gets little media attention – but it is still vandalism.   It is still damaging other people’s property – even the peoples’ property when applied to government buildings.  It is still a crime.

In terms of protests and demonstrations, graffiti is generally an unpunished crime.  And why not?  The looters and arsonists rarely get punished even if they get caught and arrested.

One of the early acts of the protesters was to graffiti the streets with the slogans of their movement.  In once case, they painted “BLACK LIVES MATTER” along a city block in large yellow letters.  That has now become the thing to do, with other protesters in other cities mimicking the signage.

Graffiti has now gone super-sized and mainstream.  Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered city crews to paint “BLACK LIVES MATTER” in large yellow letters on a two block stretch of 16^th Street that leads toward a large white residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

Bowser renamed the location “Black Lives Matter Square.”  It is not clear if her intent is to rename historic Lafayette Square or just some ill-defined area that has no square.   It is also uncertain whether Bowsers sees her vandalism as a permanent fixture in our nation’s capital or whether taxpayers will also have to pay to remove it.

Since our nation’s capital was established as a federal district ruled over by Congress – as opposed to a state – Bottoms actions have dubious legality.  That issue is currently be decided in the federal courts since Bottoms is being sued by a number of residents.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio – not one known for his innovative thinking – has played copycat by following the Bowser example.  And in fact, he is doing her one better.  De Blasio has ordered “BLACK LIVES MATTER” “murals” to be painted on five thoroughfares in the Big Apple.

All those who truly believe black lives matter should consider which political party is in charge of the governments where black lives do NOT matter. Where the longtime CULTURE of systemic racism permeates every function of municipal government.  Where impoverished blacks are subjected to the oppression of segregation and the deprivation of quality education, career-level jobs, decent education and safe streets.  Here is a hint.  I ain’t the Republican Party.

So there ‘tis.

By Larry Horist