Washington
D.C.'s Black Lives Matter mural will be erased. Look back at the iconic street painting
Black Lives Matter Plaza on 16th Street Washington, D.C., is repainted following the removal of the lettering for a construction project on May 13, 2021.
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Washington, D.C.’s iconic “Black Lives Matter” street mural, which has served as a powerful symbol of activism and a gathering place for joy and resistance, will soon be gone.
The decision to remove the enormous mural near the White House comes after a U.S. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., introduced legislation earlier this week that gave D.C. an ultimatum: either paint over the slogan or risk losing federal funding. The bill also called for the area in downtown D.C. to be re-named from Black Lives Matter Plaza to Liberty Plaza.
The next day, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser released a statement suggesting that the mural will have to go. “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,” she wrote. The DDOT confirmed on Saturday that plans to remove the mural will begin Monday.
The mayor’s response marked a reversal: She initially declared that the artwork would be permanent.
City workers repaint Black Lives Matter Plaza on May 13, 2021.
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The mural was painted in 2020 after federal officers attacked D.C. protesters with tear gas
In June 2020, amid a nationwide outcry over the death George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, the mural was created overnight.
It was in direct response to reports of federal officers using tear gas against peaceful protesters in D.C.’s Lafayette Square. The demonstrators had been cleared shortly before President Trump walked through the park to St. John’s Church, where he posed for a controversial photo-op holding a Bible.
A few days later, the D.C. mayor commissioned a striking 48-foot-wide “Black Lives Matter” mural near the site of the altercation. The street painting spanned two blocks of 16th Street, just north of the White House. The mayor also renamed the area Black Lives Matter Plaza and designated it a pedestrian-only zone. In all, the project cost over $4 million.
“The symbolism is huge. We are saying it loud. We are here. Maybe you didn’t hear us before. Maybe you got confused. But the message is clear. Black lives matter, period,” Keyonna Jones, one of artists who helped paint the mural, told member station WAMU in 2020.
The mural’s unveiling fell on the birthday of Breonna Taylor, a Black medical worker who was killed in March 2020 during a botched raid by police officers in Louisville, Ky. “Breonna Taylor, on your birthday, let us stand with determination. Determination to make America the land it ought to be,” Bowser wrote on Twitter on June 5, 2020.
That same evening, Trump took to Twitter and called Bowser “grossly incompetent, and in no way qualified to be running an important city like Washington, D.C.” Later that night, Bowser posted a video of the mural and wrote, “We turned on the night light for him so he dreams about #BlackLivesMatter Plaza,” seemingly referring to Trump.
A place for protest, joy, mourning and where congressman John Lewis spent one of his final days
The plaza quickly became a popular meeting spot for demonstrations. People gathered or marched through, for an array of reasons including advocating for racial justice, promoting environmental justice, raising awareness of international issues and celebrating Juneteenth.
People gather to celebrate Juneteenth in Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House on June 20, 2023.
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Anadolu Agency/via Getty Images
With Iman Saleh (left), on her 12th day of a hunger strike for Yemen, looking on, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., speaks during a press conference at Black Lives Matter Plaza calling for an end to U.S. support for a Saudi Arabia-led blockade of Yemen on April 9, 2021.
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Indigenous environmental activists march through Black Lives Matter Plaza on their way to the White House as part of a protest against oil pipelines on April 1, 2021.
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Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Many also came together to mourn the loss of civil rights leader and congressman John Lewis, who died in 2020. A year later, Bowser said that one of her proudest memories of the Black Lives Matter Plaza was when Lewis was able to see the street painting himself before his death.
“He recognized Black Lives Matter Plaza as good trouble, and we know it will remain a gathering place for reflection, planning and action, as we work toward a more perfect union,” Bowser said in 2021.
Rep. John Lewis of Georgia is seen in Black Lives Matter Plaza on June 7, 2020.
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Aurora Samperio/NurPhoto via Getty Images
People gather at Black Lives Matter Plaza to watch the funeral procession for congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis on July 27, 2020.
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Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images
The installation has received some pushback over the years. After its inception, the D.C. chapter of Black Lives Matter called the mural “a performative distraction” by the mayor, accusing her of dismissing the chapter’s calls to defund the police and invest in the community.
On Friday, the group re-posted its initial complaints about the artwork and the mayor, adding, “We told you so.”
But, nationally, the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation condemned the decision to remove the artwork.
“First, they attacked critical race theory. Then, they banned books. Then DEI, Now they’re erasing Black Lives Matter Plaza. Big mistake. You can’t erase truth. Republicans hate that they have to walk past it. Hate that it reminds them of our power,” the foundation wrote in a statement.
Philonise Floyd (left), George Floyd’s brother, embraces Floyd family attorney Ben Crump as the family visits Black Lives Matter Plaza on on May 25, 2021, the one-year anniversary of George Floyd’s death.
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Jones, who helped paint the mural five years ago, told WUSA9 that she understood the mayor’s decision and was proud of the impact that the mural made in its short run.
“It speaks for itself. People traveled the world to see this,” Jones said earlier this week.
Under the motto “Light for Our Democracy,” people gather at Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House on March 4, 2025, to protest the Trump administration.
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Astrid Riecken/The Washington Post via Getty Images
WASHINGTON – Coming up this month, spring’s most colorful new event: Tulip Day Washington.
What we know:
On March 15, 2026, Tulip Day Washington will transform DC’s National Mall into a vibrant tulip-picking garden beautiful views of U.S. Capitol
This one-day event will take place from 11:15 AM – 4:15 PM, offering a floral showcase of approximately 150,000 tulips; visitors are invited to pick their choice of 10 tulips for free upon arrival.
Dig deeper:
The registration site for Tulip Day is currently down, showing users “This site is currently unavailable. If you’re the owner of this website, please contact your hosting provider to get this resolved.”
Users on social media say the event may be sold out.
Check tulipday.eu for updates.
The backstory:
The event is organized by the Embassy of the Netherlands and Royal Anthos, a Dutch trade association, in honor of America’s 250th birthday. The display of tulips will be in the shape of the number 250.
The bulbs come from the Netherlands, but are being grown in Virginia and New Jersey.
These won’t be the first tulips on the National Mall, however. The Floral Library, also known as the Tulip Library, features 93 beds of flowers near the Tidal Basin. The Floral Library was established in 1969, and is maintained by the National Park Services. These flowers, though, are to be enjoyed only – not to be picked.
The562’s coverage of Dirtbags Baseball for the 2026 season is sponsored by P2S, Inc. Visit p2sinc.com to learn more.
Long Beach State dropped a 9-7 decision against Washington State on Sunday afternoon, closing out a busy weekend on Bohl Diamond at Blair Field.
The visiting Cougars took the lead for good in the eighth inning when Long Beach Poly grad Ryan Skjonsby delivered a game-winning two-run single with two outs and the bases loaded. Skjonsby was 2-for-4 with a walk, a run scored and three RBIs for Washington State in their road victory.
For the Dirtbags, catcher Damon Valdez scored twice and had a key two-run single in the sixth to help lead a Long Beach comeback. Trevor Goldenetz had a pair of hits at the top of the order, including an RBI triple. Camden Gasser walked twice and singled, improving his on-base percentage to .574 on the season.
Long Beach State (4-7) will be back in action at home on Tuesday with an exhibition match against Waseda University from Japan. The Dirtbags will then visit San Diego State on Wednesday and open Big West play at UC Santa Barbara this weekend.
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – Operation “Epic Fury” — the weekend military operations carried out by the U.S. and Israel against targets in Iran — tops the agenda for Congress as lawmakers return to Washington.
Sunday, President Donald Trump said the new leadership in Iran wants to talk to the Trump Administration.
Democrats in both chambers called for Congress to return as soon as possible for classified briefings on Iran, followed by a move to vote on the War Powers Act. The Constitution gives Congress the power to declare war on another country.
Congress’ return to Washington was originally delayed due to the start of the 2026 midterm elections cycle.
Tuesday, voters in Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas head to the polls for primary elections.
North Carolina and Texas are drawing significant attention, as both states are facing congressional redistricting and competitive primary races for Senate seats.
In Texas, incumbent Sen. John Cornyn (R) is facing primary challenges from state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt. On the Democratic side, Rep. Jasmine Crockett is facing state Rep. James Talarico.
In North Carolina, candidates are vying to replacing retiring Sen. Thom Tillis (R) . They include former Governor Roy Cooper (D) and former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Whatley.
Also this week, the Rev. Jesse Jackson is laid to rest. He will be honored Wednesday in Washington before a final memorial service Saturday. Jackson died Feb. 17.
Copyright 2026 Gray DC. All rights reserved.
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