Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., will be getting removed and its ground mural is set to be painted over, according to a spokesperson for D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser.
According to NBC News, the removal process currently has no timeline, but the ground mural will be replaced by a design that was created by D.C. schoolchildren, with Bowser saying the decision was made several days ago.
After George Floyd was killed during the summer of 2020, which sparked protests across the country, two blocks of 16th Street NW which is situated just north of the White House, was designated as Black Lives Matter Plaza. The ground mural was unveiled June 5, 2020, and despite being paved over and replaced, Bowser had announced in October 2021, that the new mural would be a permanent installation.
The removal could signal a preemptive move on Bowser’s part, after U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) introduced legislation on Monday that would force the mayor to rename the Black Lives Matter Plaza or risk losing federal funding if passed.
The bill would require two-block stretch to be renamed Liberty Plaza, as well as update all government websites, and documents. The ground mural would further need to be covered up.
In a statement, Clyde said he was pleased with the quick outcome that came within a day of filing his bill.
“I’m very pleased that within one day of introducing my bill to rename BLM Plaza, Mayor Bowser announced plans to do just that,” Clyde said. “My focus remains on ensuring this woke, divisive slogan is removed and no longer stains the streets of America’s capital city, and I will continue pursuing my effort until BLM Plaza is officially gone for good.”
During an interview with The Daily Caller in 2024, Clyde said the whole project was a waste of money.
“The fact that the city spent almost $5 million on it is an incredible waste of money. And then to maintain it, another waste of money,” Clyde told The Daily Caller. “So, honestly, the street needs to go back to the way it was, which is a public thoroughfare, and the Black Lives Matter wording needs to be paved over.”
Bowser said in a statement Tuesday that the mural “inspired” people but the “federal job cuts” should now be the top concern.
“The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a very painful period, but now we can’t afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference,” Bowser said. “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.”
