The street that leads to Lafayette Square and the White House has been painted last Friday morning. The 50-foot long mural spells out “Black Lives Matter” in bright yellow color.
The work was initiated by District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser who hired workers from D.C. Public Works Department to show support for the Social Justice protestors who have been marching that path since the tragic death of George Floyd. According to ABC News, the section where the mural is painted has been renamed “Black Lives Matter Plaza.”
The section of 16th street in front of the White House is now officially “Black Lives Matter Plaza”. pic.twitter.com/bbJgAYE35b
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) June 5, 2020
Mayor Bowser said at a press conference: “There are people who are craving to be heard and to be seen, and to have their humanity recognized, and we had the opportunity to send that message loud and clear on a very important street in our city. And it is that message, and that message is to the American people, that Black Lives Matter black humanity matters, and we as a city raise that up as part of our values as a city.”
However, US President Donald Trump and the official D.C. chapter of the Black Lives Matter Global Network were against the mural. Trump recently took to Twitter to announce: “The incompetent Mayor of Washington, D.C., @MayorBowser, who’s budget is totally out of control and is constantly coming back to us for ‘handouts’, is now fighting with the National Guard, who saved her from great embarrassment…over the last number of nights. If she doesn’t treat these men and women well, then we’ll bring in a different group of men and women!”
The BLMDC deemed the mural “a performative distraction from real policy changes.” Read in the tweet below.
This is a performative distraction from real policy changes. Bowser has consistently been on the wrong side of BLMDC history. This is to appease white liberals while ignoring our demands. Black Lives Matter means defund the police. @emilymbadger say it with us https://t.co/w0ekwSG1ip
— BlackLivesMatter DC (@DMVBlackLives) June 5, 2020