Construction workers have begun dismantling the Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., a move that has Republicans applauding the removal. The plaza, which was painted with the bold yellow letters of the Black Lives Matter slogan during the tumultuous protests in 2020, has become a flashpoint in the left’s push for race issues in public spaces.
The Black Lives Matter Plaza, a two-block stretch of 16th Street NW near the White House, has officially begun its dismantling, ending its four-year presence since the phrase was first painted on the street. Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, explained that the removal is part of the city’s America 250 mural project, inviting students and artists to create new murals throughout all eight wards. This move sharply contrasts Bowser’s stance in 2020 when she supported the BLM painting and the related protests.
Although Bowser emphasized the decision was driven by Washington's priorities of economic recovery and public safety, she also admitted that the federal government had a part to play.
On March 4, Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-GA) introduced a bill threatening to withhold $1.5 billion in federal funding, vital to DC's 2025 operating budget, unless the mural is removed. Clyde, a vocal critic of the BLM movement, described the mural as "divisive," "corrupt," and a symbol that "stains the streets of America's capital."
Republicans praised the move, saying that “America is finally healing” as videos of the demolition began surfacing.
Construction is expected to take six to eight weeks, and residents will experience changes to their commutes as sections of the area close temporarily throughout the project. The mural isn’t just being painted over; the entire roadway is being torn up and reconstructed.