From Fox5DC.com: The famous Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House will soon look very different.
Instead of the bold, yellow mural that’s been there since 2020, the plaza will be replaced with fresh artwork created by local students and artists, as part of a new city project celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Mayor Muriel Bowser revealed the surprising news on Tuesday, stating that her administration has long considered the plaza’s evolution.
“The mural inspired millions and helped our city through a very painful period,” Bowser said, reflecting on how the Black Lives Matter mural became a symbol during the protests against police brutality in 2020. “But now we can’t afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference. The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern. Our focus is on economic growth, public safety, and supporting our residents affected by these cuts.”
Mayor Bowser released the following statement on the evolution of Black Lives Matter Plaza: pic.twitter.com/6dk8Jbc5ir
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) March 4, 2025
The massive “Black Lives Matter” message was painted on the D.C. street in the summer of 2020, amid the nationwide protests over the death of criminal George Floyd in Minneapolis. The plaza was officially completed in October 2021.
Fox5 further explained:
Bowser’s statement Tuesday comes just one day after Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) introduced H.R. 1774, a bill that seeks to remove the “Black Lives Matter” phrase from the plaza. If passed, the bill would withhold federal funding from D.C. unless the mayor removes it and redesignates the area as “Liberty Plaza.”
Black Lives Matter activists are not happy that Mayor Bowser is planning to paint over the “Black Lives Matter” street mural.
The Black Lives Matter organization declared, “They can whitewash our murals, but they can’t erase our history. Black Lives Matter Plaza is a permanent reminder of what they’re scared of and we’re not backing down.”
They can whitewash our murals, but they can’t erase our history. Black Lives Matter Plaza is a permanent reminder of what they’re scared of and we’re not backing down.
— Black Lives Matter (BLM) (@Blklivesmatter) March 5, 2025
Nee Nee Taylor, a founding member of the D.C. Black Lives Matter group, slammed Bowser, writing on X, “@MayorBowser you never cared about Black Lives Mattering. You painting those words were performative, you were in a pissing match with Trump. The city removed the names of the people that were killed by the @DCPoliceDept 😔. You allowed them to beat and teargas us on that Plaza.”
@MayorBowser you never cared about Black Lives Mattering. You painting those words were performative, you were in a pissing match with Trump. The city removed the names of the people that were killed by the @DCPoliceDept 😔. You allowed them to beat and teargas us on that Plaza.
— SpiritOfHarrietTubman (@ItsNeeTay) March 4, 2025
Kelsey Nicole Nelson fumed, “The impending impact of a federal overhaul is big. This is scary times we are living in when a mural that was meant to bring the city together at a difficult time will now be erased as if it didn’t exist. The identity of the city continues to change.”
The impending impact of a federal overhaul is big. This is scary times we are living in when a mural that was meant to bring the city together at a difficult time will now be erased as if it didn’t exist. The identity of the city continues to change. https://t.co/7Dgyz63URT
— Kelsey Nicole Nelson (KNN) (@therealknelson) March 5, 2025
WATCH the news reports below for more details:
BREAKING: Following the introduction of my bill to rename Black Lives Matter Plaza, Mayor Bowser CAVED—announcing that D.C. WILL rename the plaza.
This woke, divisive slogan will no longer stain the streets of America’s capital city. pic.twitter.com/iQyjDvqp6Z
— Rep. Andrew Clyde (@Rep_Clyde) March 5, 2025
The famous Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House will soon look very different after Mayor Bowser announced that the plaza will be replaced with DC’s America 250 mural project.
FULL STORY: https://t.co/LrZ2IT1YtT pic.twitter.com/5AEPR6VoMn
— FOX 5 DC (@fox5dc) March 4, 2025
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