Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel E. Bowser has announced that the iconic Black Lives Matter mural, painted in 2020, will be replaced with a new mural.
There are no details available about the design of the new mural. The move comes after Republican congressman Andrew Clyde (Georgia) introduced legislation threatening to withhold federal funds from the city unless the mural is removed and the plaza renamed.
In a statement, Bowser states that the mural inspired millions and helped the community through a difficult time, but now it can’t afford to be sidetracked by “meaningless congressional interference,” citing the federal job cuts as the city’s top priority.
Nee Nee Taylor, one of the founding members of Harriets Wildest Dream (Black led community defense hub) and a former Direct Action core organizer with Black Lives Matter DC, responded to the mayor’s tweet, expressing her disappointment in her decision.
In her tweet, she calls out the mayor for disregarding the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement and that her choice of words appears performative-based, citing there was some form of engagement in the rivalry with President Trump. She also highlights the city’s decision to remove the individual names of those killed by the DC police.
The mural was painted on June 5, 2020, in the aftermath of George Floyd’s murder, resulting in worldwide protests. During the George Floyd protests, tensions escalated between Ms. Bowser and Trump during his first term. According to the New York Times, Bowser engaged with protesters and called on the president to pull federal law enforcement officers and National Guard troops from the city.
Republican lawmakers have introduced many bills targeting the city since Trump took office, including the power to elect local government that city residents have had for more than 50 years, according to the New York Times.