Bill de Blasio: Trump Opposes BLM Mural Because He's a Divider

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio Friday slammed President Donald Trump for his opposition to plans to paint a large yellow "Black Lives Matter" sign on the city's Fifth Avenue, in front of Trump Tower, accusing the president of only knowing "how to divide."

"So many things he says are so broken," de Blasio told CNN's "New Day." "This country was built by the labor of African Americans, including enslaved African Americans. The only reason you have a Fifth Avenue and all the greatness of New York City and America is because of the labor of Black people that has so often gone uncompensated in so many ways."

The phrase "Black Lives Matter" is expected to be painted in the coming week between 56th and 57th Streets, reports The New York Times. The phrase has already been painted in Staten Island, and others are planned for Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx.

Trump on Thursday posted an angry tweet about the news, saying that the mayor wants to paint "the fabled & beautiful Fifth Avenue, right in front of Trump Tower/Tiffany, with a big yellow Black Lives Matter sign. 'Pigs in a Blanket, Fry 'Em Like Bacon,' referring to killing Police, is their chant. NYC Police are furious!"

"We need to make clear to the whole country that Black lives matter, so why not put it right where it matters most, the center of the city, on Fifth Avenue, and send a message to the president because he does not embrace Black  Lives Matter," said the mayor. "He totally misunderstands and then he tries to denigrate this movement."

Instead, de Blasio added, Trump could have given a "magnanimous approach" and said he was happy to see the message in front of his own doorstep.

"Instead, he goes to the one trick he knows, which is to divide people, to be a racial arsonist, when in fact he's supposed to be our national healer," said the mayor.

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