Washington D.C.’s Free-Speech Double Standard Blesses BLM but Punishes Pro-Lifers

It’s been a year now since Washington, D.C., officials ordered the arrest of two young people for doing what the city itself was encouraging people of all ages to do — paint political slogans in the street.

Last summer saw a crescendo in the nationwide riots, looting, arson, and other social upheavals that began with the death of George Floyd and the ensuing surge of Black Lives Matter protests. Many Washington officials, including Mayor Muriel Bowser, were happy to throw verbal gasoline on the fires — allowing, encouraging, and endorsing BLM commotions and turbulence throughout the city, including the designation of a “Black Lives Matter Plaza” in front of the White House, the commissioning of a mural celebrating “Black Lives Matter,” and permitting “Defund the Police” messages and graffiti on major streets.

The officials’ enthusiasm for such public expressions and free speech ended abruptly, though, with a request from pro-life advocacy groups the Frederick Douglass Foundation and Students for Life of America to hold a street painting and sidewalk-chalking event in front of the D.C. offices of Planned Parenthood. Chalk messages had been drawn at the same location many times before, but this time, officials never formally responded to the request.