Claiming a Right Means Everyone Else Has It, Too

"Black Lives Matter" on a Washington street (abc.net.au)

Last month, when corporations and public officials fell all over themselves to denounce purported systemic racism, Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel painted "Black Lives Matter" on a city street.

While your humble blogger agrees with the sentiment, and certainly supports the right of individuals and private groups to espouse it, the action crossed a line:

The understanding that overt political messaging is forbidden on public property has been resoundingly overturned by officials who created the well-meaning signage.

Is "Black Lives Matter" spray-painted on a a fire-station wall still a crime? The graffiti artist was just emulating the example of the mayor.

If it isn't a crime, what about painting "All Lives Matter?" Any attempt to criminalize "All Lives Matter" counter-signage will be viewed as more liberal hypocrisy, i.e., free speech for me but not for thee.

The conservative group, Judicial Watch, has asked the above questions through a lawsuit: [bold added]

Judicial Watch went to court Wednesday demanding access to paint the streets of Washington with its own political message after the city wrote “Black Lives Matter” on one street and allowed protesters to paint “Defund the Police” next to it.

The conservative group said the city has effectively turned its roadways into a public forum, and so it must allow those with differing viewpoints than BLM protesters to have the same access, or else it’s violating the First Amendment.

Claiming a right means everyone else has it, too.