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D.C.'s Black Lives Matter mural will be erased. Look back at the iconic street painting

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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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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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.

People gather to celebrate Juneteenth in Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House on June 20, 2023.

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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.

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.

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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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.

Rep. John Lewis of Georgia is seen in Black Lives Matter Plaza on June 7, 2020.

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People gather at Black Lives Matter Plaza to watch the funeral procession for congressman and civil rights leader John Lewis on July 27, 2020.

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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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.

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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.

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.

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“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.

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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Washington Lottery Powerball, Cash Pop results for May 11, 2026

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The Washington Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at May 11, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from May 11 drawing

24-30-37-56-64, Powerball: 07, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Cash Pop numbers from May 11 drawing

09

Check Cash Pop payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from May 11 drawing

7-6-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Match 4 numbers from May 11 drawing

07-12-18-19

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Check Match 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Hit 5 numbers from May 11 drawing

07-09-11-32-42

Check Hit 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Keno numbers from May 11 drawing

05-07-15-27-30-32-35-36-40-43-45-47-49-58-59-62-64-65-72-76

Check Keno payouts and previous drawings here.

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Winning Lotto numbers from May 11 drawing

01-18-28-34-37-48

Check Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from May 11 drawing

09-13-34-42-59, Powerball: 01

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

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Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Washington Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes over $600, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Washington Lottery’s regional offices.

To claim by mail, complete a winner claim form and the information on the back of the ticket, making sure you have signed it, and mail it to:

Washington Lottery Headquarters

PO Box 43050

Olympia, WA 98504-3050

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For in-person claims, visit a Washington Lottery regional office and bring a winning ticket, photo ID, Social Security card and a voided check (optional).

Olympia Headquarters

Everett Regional Office

Federal Way Office

Spokane Department of Imagination

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Vancouver Office

Tri-Cities Regional Office

For additional instructions or to download the claim form, visit the Washington Lottery prize claim page.

When are the Washington Lottery drawings held?

  • Powerball: 7:59 p.m. PT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
  • Mega Millions: 8 p.m. PT Tuesday and Friday.
  • Cash Pop: 8 p.m. PT daily.
  • Pick 3: 8 p.m. PT daily.
  • Match 4: 8 p.m. PT daily.
  • Hit 5: 8 p.m. PT daily.
  • Daily Keno: 8 p.m. PT daily.
  • Lotto: 8 p.m. PT Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
  • Powerball Double Play: 8:30 p.m. PT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Washington editor. You can send feedback using this form.



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19-Year-Old Transgender University of Washington Student Fatally Stabbed

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19-Year-Old Transgender University of Washington Student Fatally Stabbed


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This story contains descriptions of fatal violence against a transgender person.

The Seattle Police Department are searching for a suspect after a 19-year-old University of Washington student was stabbed to death in an off-campus student apartment complex on May 10.

Seattle Police Department Detective Eric Muñoz told NBC News that the victim is “believed to be a 19-year-old transgender female” who was enrolled at the university. The victim has not yet been publicly identified by name. She was found in the housing complex laundry room shortly after 10 p.m. on Sunday night.

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The housing complex, Nordheim Court, is privately managed but affiliated with the university, located near an upscale shopping center in Seattle’s U-Village neighborhood. According to NBC News, residents received an official alert from UW to stay inside their homes and lock all windows and doors — an alert that was lifted around 1 a.m. with the acknowledgment that “a death investigation remains ongoing.”

According to SPD detective Eric Muñoz, police and the fire department attempted lifesaving measures but ultimately “pronounced the victim deceased at the scene.”

“Officers are actively searching for the suspect, believed to be a black male with a beard, 5’6-8” tall, wearing a vest with button up shirt, and blue jeans,” Muñoz wrote in a blotter report.

Muñoz noted that the victim would be identified by the medical examiner’s office in “the coming days.” The SPD did not immediately respond to Them’s request for comment.

This is the seventh known trans person to be violently killed in 2026. In mid-April, 39-year-old transmasculine farmer Luca RedBeard was fatally shot in rural New Mexico. Last week, police in Marion County, Florida opened a homicide investigation into the shooting death of a 29-year-old who went by multiple names and referred to “transitioning” on social media. In Kentucky, an investigation into the disappearance of 22-year-old trans college student Murry Foust remains ongoing.

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Police are asking anyone with information about the University of Washington case to call the Violent Crimes Tip Line at 206-233-5000, emphasizing that anonymous tips are accepted.

This is a developing story.

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How the Sea Mar Museum Is Preserving Latino History in Washington

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How the Sea Mar Museum Is Preserving Latino History in Washington


On a quiet stretch of Des Moines Memorial Drive in South Seattle, the Sea Mar Museum of Chicano/a/Latino/a Culture rises like a long‑overdue acknowledgment. Its brick exterior doesn’t shout; it invites. Inside, the rooms hum with the stories of families who crossed borders, harvested fields, organized classrooms, and built communities across Washington state—often without seeing their histories reflected anywhere on a museum wall.

For Rogelio Riojas, founder and CEO of Sea Mar Community Health Centers, the museum is a promise kept. “We wanted to make sure the contributions of Latinos in Washington state are recognized and preserved for future generations,” he told The Seattle Times when the museum opened in 2019. It was a simple statement, but one that captured decades of work—both visible and invisible—by the region’s Latino communities.


Walking through the galleries feels like stepping into a living archive. One of the most arresting sights is a pair of original farmworker cabins, transported from Eastern Washington. Their narrow wooden frames and sparse interiors speak volumes about the migrant families who once slept inside after long days in the fields. The cabins are not replicas or artistic interpretations; they are the real thing, weathered by sun, dust, and time. They anchor the museum’s narrative in the physical realities of labor that shaped the state’s agricultural economy.

Sea Mar describes the museum as “dedicated to sharing the history, struggles, and successes of the Latino community in Washington state,” a mission that plays out in photographs, letters, student newspapers, and oral histories contributed by community members themselves. These aren’t artifacts chosen from afar—they’re family treasures, personal archives, and memories entrusted to the museum so they can live beyond the kitchen tables and shoeboxes where they were once kept.

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The story extends beyond the museum walls. Just steps away is the Sea Mar Community Center, a sweeping, light‑filled gathering space designed for celebrations, performances, workshops, and community events. With room for nearly 500 people, a full stage, a movie‑theater‑sized screen, and a catering kitchen, the center was built with one purpose: to give the community a place to see itself, gather, and grow. Sea Mar describes it as “a welcoming space for families, organizations, and community groups to gather, celebrate, and learn,” and on any given weekend, it lives up to that promise.

Together, the museum and community center form a cultural campus—part historical archive, part living room for the region’s Latino communities. Students come to learn about the Chicano activists who reshaped the University of Washington in the late 1960s. Families come to see their own histories reflected in the exhibits. Visitors come to understand a story that has long been present in Washington, even if it wasn’t always visible.

The Sea Mar Museum is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., offering free admission to anyone who walks through its doors. For many, it’s more than a museum—it’s a recognition, a gathering place, and a testament to the people who helped shape the Pacific Northwest.

Preserving Latino History and Community Life in Washington was first published on Washington Latino News (WALN) and republished with permission.



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