Some D.C. citizens last Tuesday put up a green street sign reading “Khashoggi Way” on the New Hampshire Avenue NW in front of the Saudi Arabian embassy in Washington, D.C.
Jamal Khashoggi, a Washington Post contributor, was reportedly killed inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2, soon after he entered the embassy to obtain some documents required for his upcoming marriage.
The D.C. Council will not be taking up legislation next session to name the street that runs in front of the Saudi Arabian Embassy of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia after the murdered journalist. A D.C. neighborhood group on Wednesday had approved a resolution to symbolically name part of the street as “Jamal Khashoggi Way.”
“I just assumed that it will take some period of time for the processes of local government to work their magic. I thought I would save them the effort and just put the sign up,” said Claude Taylor, chair of an anti-Trump political action committee, Mad Dog PAC.
As per the D.C. Code, no public space can be named after a person who is alive or dead for less than two years. No exception will be made for Khashoggi, said Phil Mendelson, D.C. Council Chairman.
“We are just trying to make a public statement that we feel the citizens of D.C. would want: that we need to get a Khashoggi Way street renamed officially,” said Taylor. “Until that happens, Mad Dog PAC is happy to provide some temporary signage.” Billboards with anti-Trump messages have been put up by Mad Dog PAC across the country.
Mad Dog PAC brought a dozen of “Khashoggi Way” signs for $280. Taylor is planning to erect 11 such signs across D.C. “I would expect you might see some by the Old Post Office, near the Trump International Hotel resides,” he said, adding “it’s definitely a fair call to associate this crime with Donald Trump.”
In a statement released last month, President Donald Trump said the U.S. “intends to remain a steadfast partner of Saudi Arabia” despite the evidence against the kingdom in relation to the Khashoggi murder.
Taylor said the kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the crown prince are responsible for the dissident journalist’s murder. “We are doing our small part with this action to make sure people don’t forget it, especially here in D.C,” he said.
Street in Front of Saudi Embassy in DC to be Named after Jamal Khashoggi