D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) on Tuesday signaled plans for a new mural at Black Lives Matter Plaza, a site that became a national symbol of resistance to former President Donald Trump. The move follows Republican efforts to erase and rename the plaza, with threats to withhold millions in federal transportation funds from the District.
Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) introduced legislation that would force D.C. to rename the site “Liberty Plaza” and remove all references to Black Lives Matter Plaza from city records. If the city refuses, Congress could strip at least $185 million in transportation funding this year alone.
Clyde has repeatedly pushed to strip Washington, D.C. of its limited self-governance, previously advocating for the repeal of the Home Rule Act, the 1973 law granting the District authority over local affairs.
Bowser ordered the mural’s creation in June 2020 following the murder of George Floyd, as protests erupted nationwide. The large yellow letters spelling “Black Lives Matter” on 16th Street drew Trump’s ire, with the former president calling Bowser “incompetent.” Despite opposition, the mayor formally designated the area as Black Lives Matter Plaza, and the mural later became a permanent fixture in 2021.
In a statement Tuesday, Bowser defended the mural’s significance but said the city has bigger priorities.
“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,” Bowser stated. “The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern. Our focus is on economic growth, public safety, and supporting our residents affected by these cuts.”
