WASHINGTON — Crews have commenced the process of removing the prominent yellow “Black Lives Matter” mural painted on the street just a block from the White House. This decision follows an announcement by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, prompted by pressure from both activists and Republicans in Congress. The work is slated to take about six weeks, after which the street will be adorned with new city-sponsored murals, the specifics of which have not yet been disclosed.
The original painting served as a bold statement of defiance during President Donald Trump’s first term, symbolizing the city’s stance against his administration. However, the removal underscores the delicate position of the District of Columbia as Trump returns to the White House with both congressional houses under Republican control.
Mayor Bowser, a Democrat, initiated the painting and renamed the site Black Lives Matter Plaza in June 2020. This took place amid a wave of protests against police brutality and the murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer. During that period, Bowser found herself in conflict with Trump over her response to the demonstrations.
Currently, Bowser faces challenges in maintaining D.C.’s tenuous autonomy amidst federal pressures. Last week, she expressed on X that although the mural inspired millions and provided strength during a painful time, they cannot afford distractions from more pressing issues like federal employment cuts. She emphasized these as the top priority over the “meaningless congressional interference.”
As the pavement demolition began, a small crowd gathered to bear witness. Among them, Starlette Thomas, a resident of Bowie, Maryland, recalled being part of the 2020 protests. She carefully collected a piece of the pavement as a keepsake, remarking that it made her feel both joy and sorrow. “For me to walk away with a piece of that means that it’s not gone,” she shared. “It’s more than brick and mortar.”
Megan Bailiff, CEO of Equus Striping, the company responsible for the original mural, described the removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza as “historically obscene,” asserting that its significance has only grown within the current national context.
The change was celebrated by far-right figures online, with conservative commentator Charlie Kirk visiting the site to declare it as the “end of this mass race hysteria in our country.”
In Trump’s second term, Bowser has strived to minimize confrontations and focus on areas of common interest. She met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in Florida post-election and publicly highlighted their shared goals.
Trump, while campaigning, reiterated his desire for a federal “takeover” of the nation’s capital, citing crime, graffiti, and homelessness as primary concerns. Although Bowser has not responded to reports of a potential executive order from the White House targeting D.C., she has pointed out that the city’s greatest threat to home rule autonomy emanates from “some of the people in Congress.”
Republicans in Congress have consistently hinted at intervening in district matters, both minor and major. The BOWSER Act, currently under congressional consideration, aims to completely repeal the 1973 Home Rule Act, which allows for limited self-governance in the capital city.