By: Miriam Edelman
Again, Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) wants to undermine D.C. autonomy. This time, he would like to eliminate Black Lives Matter (BLM) Plaza and harm D.C. home rule.
In an interview in late 2024, Clyde criticized home rule, seemingly wanting to increase Congress’ power regarding its approval process of D.C.-government passed bills:
I think [home rule] is going to be the primary focus of home rule [sic.] going forward. When home rule was created in 1973, it was, okay, whatever the city passes is approved and Congress has a limited amount of time to disapprove it. That’s backwards. That is not honoring the Constitution that says Congress has exclusive legislative authority over the city. The way it should have been is whatever the city approves, Congress must approve that and it is not approved until Congress approves it and if Congress does not approve it, then it is disapproved. It’s not approved and Congress has a limited time to disapprove it. It is not approved until Congress approves it because that’s the way the Constitution is written. Article 1, Section 8, Clause 17, is very, very clear. And that’s not the way home rule operates right now.
He also discussed his desire to pave over BLM Plaza:
I would think that that is something that we should do. You have a street that is blocked off. It should not be blocked off. You have businesses that are negatively affected by it and they shouldn’t be negatively affected by it. The Black Lives Matter movement in and of itself should be All Lives Matter, not just Black Lives Matter, but All Lives Matter.
So in that respect, I don’t agree with this. And the fact that the city spent almost $5 million on it is an incredible waste of money. And then to maintain it, another waste of money. So, honestly, the street needs to go back to the way it was, which is a public thoroughfare and the Black Lives Matter wording needs to be paved over.
He critiqued BLM for being “pro-crime” and said:
We are not a defund-the-police nation or a defund-the-police city, but they are a defund-the-police organization. And that is wrong. So we don’t need to be honoring it. I mean, think if you are an MPD officer and you go by that every solitary day, what does that tell you? This city hates me.
DCNOW’s blog post, entitled “When President-Elect Donald Trump Sent Federal Law Enforcement onto D.C.’s Streets, Black Lives Matter Plaza was Created,” describes the founding and history of this symbol of D.C. autonomy.
According to the Daily Caller, during the 119th Congress, Clyde intends to introduce a bill that would overturn D.C. home rule. He also plans to introduce a piece of legislation that would end BLM Plaza.
Clyde has been a vehement opponent of D.C. autonomy as was described in DCNOW’s blog piece, entitled “Fears-Turned Reality: Congress and the District of Columbia in 2023 So Far.” Clyde wanted to end home rule: “It’s past time for Congress to repeal the District of Columbia Home Rule Act and reclaim its duty, specifically outlined in Article I, Section 8, Clause 17 of the Constitution, to manage the affairs of our nation’s capital.” On March 9, 2023, Clyde introduced H.J. Res. 42, Disapproving the action of the District of Columbia Council in approving the Comprehensive Policing and Justice Reform Amendment Act of 2022 (the D.C. Council-passed bill on policing and justice reform). He also wanted to permit D.C. residents to carry a gun without a permit.
Home rule and BLM Plaza both must be maintained. Congress should stop interfering in local D.C. matters.
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