Washington DC's mayor Muriel Bowser announced a change in street name near the church where Donald Trump posed for a photograph with a Bible. The street is now named "Black Lives Matter Plaza".
City workers and activists painted the words Black Lives Matter in enormous bright yellow letters on the the street leading to the White House, a highly visible sign of the District of Columbia's embrace of a protest movement that has put it at odds with President Donald Trump.
Happening now: Painting “Black Lives Matter” on 16th Street in front of the @WhiteHouse https://t.co/doLOW3VpEc— Nikki Schwab (@Nikki Schwab) 1591359856.0
DC mayor Muriel Bowser tweeted aerial video of the mural shortly after it was completed on Friday.
#BlackLivesMatter https://t.co/OQg6977n5r— Muriel Bowser (@Muriel Bowser) 1591368151.0
People on Twitter were showing support and making sure changes are happening and the move is not just performative.
@MurielBowser Murals are performative, budgets are not. If you wants to show #BlackLivesMatter in DC, why don’t y… https://t.co/tArXsGpbgE— Alexis Goldstein (@Alexis Goldstein) 1591370173.0
@MurielBowser Excellent start. Thank you. Do Not Stop #BlackLivesMatter— ☇RiotWomenn☇ (@☇RiotWomenn☇) 1591373523.0
The letters and an image of the city's flag stretch across 16th Street for two blocks, ending just before the church where President Trump staged a photo-op after federal officers forcibly cleared a peaceful demonstration to make way for the president and his entourage.
The section of 16th street in front of the White House is now officially “Black Lives Matter Plaza”. https://t.co/bbJgAYE35b— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@Mayor Muriel Bowser) 1591371126.0
A black and white sign was put up to mark the change. The designer was proud to show how the message will live in the street sign.
Yesterday my team and I got a chance to make history when DC’s Mayor Bowser had us create these #blacklivesmatter s… https://t.co/jVHumLfEjy— Benxett (@Benxett) 1591372252.0
Twitter was quick to show their support.
@Benxett @TrueRoyalDM4 The revolution shall be televised ✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾✊🏾 Congratulations 🍾— Black Beatle (@Black Beatle) 1591374255.0
@Benxett AMAZING!!! I love this. Thank you for your part in it. This is historic.— maria (@maria) 1591373271.0
@Benxett You are creating great history! When I visit I will be so proud to see your signs all over!— Tara Connelly (@Tara Connelly) 1591373714.0
Bowser has been an open ally to protesters, and has spoken up about the heavy-handed federal response and called for the removal of out-of-state National Guard troops.
I request that @realDonaldTrump withdraw all extraordinary federal law enforcement and military presence from our c… https://t.co/uF3zHsTOU6— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@Mayor Muriel Bowser) 1591363166.0
She says their differences highlight the need for DC to be a state and have more control over its internal affairs.
On Thursday, as the protests turned peaceful, she ended a curfew imposed after people damaged buildings and broke into businesses over the weekend and Monday.
Mayor Bowser's endorsement of the project follows her verbal clashes with the Trump administration over the response to protests of the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.