NYC Mayor de Blasio leads effort to paint 'Black Lives Matter' outside of Trump Tower

A group of New York City workers and activists on Thursday painted the words "Black Lives Matters" in bold, yellow letters outside of Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue.

Among those who joined in the effort were Mayor Bill de Blasio, the Reverend Al Sharpton and Democratic Rep. Carolyn Maloney.

“This is such an important moment for our city,” de Blasio told volunteers, who chanted, “Black lives matter!” while holding paint rollers. “We are making a statement today of what we value in New York City.” 

President Trump tweeted about the event, outside of his luxury living, retail building.

“NYC is cutting Police $’s by ONE BILLION DOLLARS, and yet the @NYCMayor is going to paint a big, expensive, yellow Black Lives Matter sign on Fifth Avenue, denigrating this luxury Avenue,” the president tweeted.

De Blasio tweeted back: “Here’s what you don’t understand: Black people BUILT 5th Ave and so much of this nation. Your “luxury” came from THEIR labor, for which they have never been justly compensated. We are honoring them. The fact that you see it as denigrating your street is the definition of racism.”

According to the New York Post, De Blasio privately commissioned the mural last month as part of several planned one across New York City  – despite warning of mass layoffs if the city doesn’t get a federal bailout and assistance from Trump due to the coronavirus pandemic.