City workers in Washington, DC, have started the process of removing the iconic Black Lives Matter mural to transform Black Lives Matter Plaza into Liberty Plaza. The work began on March 10, 2025, and is expected to take 6-8 weeks to complete. This move comes after pressure from President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers who have advocated for the mural’s removal.
(Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The Black Lives Matter mural was first painted in 2020, following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, as a symbol of unity against racism and police brutality. The mural, along with the renaming of the area near the White House to Black Lives Matter Plaza, became an emblem of the protests and activism that swept the nation.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the removal on her official social media account, explaining that it is part of the city’s America 250 mural project, which celebrates America’s 250th anniversary. The mural, a giant yellow installation stretching across two city blocks on 16th Street, was originally painted to protest police brutality and racial injustice. Though the mural was removed once before in 2021 for a construction project, it was later repainted.
(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is overseeing the removal and has said that the project will take about 6-8 weeks to finish. DDOT also promised to work closely with local stakeholders to ensure the process runs smoothly and expressed gratitude for the public’s patience during the transition.
The removal of the mural follows the introduction of legislation by Republican Representative Andrew Clyde, which aims to withhold federal funding from DC until the mural is removed. In response, Mayor Bowser defended the mural’s removal, stating that while the mural had been a source of inspiration and solidarity during a painful time, it was time to move on. She dismissed the political pressure, referring to it as “meaningless congressional interference.”
In 2020, a similar mural was painted outside Trump Tower in New York City by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio and his wife, Chirlane McCray, along with other city officials, further demonstrating the widespread symbolic use of the Black Lives Matter mural across the country.
(Photo by Angela Weiss / AFP)
The removal of the mural marks the end of a significant chapter in the fight against racism and police brutality in America, but also highlights the ongoing political divides surrounding the Black Lives Matter movement and its symbolism. The shift from Black Lives Matter Plaza to Liberty Plaza reflects both a celebration of America’s history and the political pressures surrounding the ongoing conversation about racial justice.
