Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser renamed the street in front of the White House âBlack Lives Matter Plazaâ after over a week of protests outside the executive mansion, some of which have turned violent with clashes between police and protesters.
Bowser tweeted a video of a worker installing the street sign reading âBlack Lives Matter Plazaâ on the section of 16th street near the White House.
In her tweet, she wrote, âThe section of 16th street in front of the White House is now officially âBlack Lives Matter Plazaâ.â
Bowser aide John Falcicchio wrote on Friday, âThere was a dispute this week about whose street this is. Mayor Bowser wanted to make it abundantly clear that this is DCâs street and to honor demonstrators who peacefully protesting on Monday evening.â
Bowser also posted a video of the street, which now reads âBlack Lives Matterâ in massive lettering.
She posted a quote by Martin Luther King Jr. on Twitter: âIâm happy to live in this period is that we have been forced to a point where weâre going to have to grapple with the problems that men have been trying to grapple with through history, but the demand didnât force them to do it.â
Mayor Bowser has had a rocky relationship with President Donald Trump. After protests sparked outside the White House, Trump tweeted âthe D.C. Mayor, , who is always looking for money help, wouldnât let the D.C. Police get involved. âNot their job.â Nice!â
Bowser shot back âMy police department will always protect DC and all who are in it whether I agree with them (such as those exercising their First Amendment Right) or those I donât (namely, ).â
A number of politicians including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) have appeared at the protests outside the White House.
