Washington, DC, to remove 'Black Lives Matter' painting from street near White House: Mayor
The Hindu
Washington Mayor removes Black Lives Matter painting near White House amid tensions with Trump and Congress, facing backlash.
The nation's capital city will remove the large painting of the words “Black Lives Matter” on a street one block from the White House as Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser struggles to fend off threats of encroachment from both President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.
Also Read: Black Lives Matter | A hashtag that turned into a rights movement
Ms. Bowser pointed to the change on the social platform X on Tuesday, writing: “The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period, but now we can't afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference. The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern.”
The move shows Ms. Bowser's striking shift in tone toward Mr. Trump and congressional Republicans since the President's first term in office.
Ms. Bowser, a Democrat, ordered the painting and renamed the intersection Black Lives Matter Plaza as a public act of defiance in June 2020. It came after days of chaotic protests at that location over police brutality following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.
Her approach to the protests brought her into direct conflict with Mr. Trump. The President at the time accused Ms. Bowser of losing control of her city and threatened to invoke his power to take over the Metropolitan Police Department.
He didn't follow through but declared his own multiagency lockdown that included helicopters flying at low altitudes to intimidate protesters.
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