On March 10, 2025, workers in Washington, D.C., began dismantling the prominent “Black Lives Matter” street mural near the White House, following pressure from former President Donald Trump. The large, yellow mural had been painted on the road in June 2020 during widespread protests sparked by the killing of George Floyd, an unarmed Black man, by a police officer in Minneapolis.
The mural was credited with calming tensions in the area amid violent confrontations between protesters and law enforcement. However, following Trump’s return to office in January 2025, he and his Republican allies have pushed to dismantle such symbols of racial justice as part of a broader effort to challenge diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser, a Democrat, had previously supported the mural, emphasizing its role in fostering peace during a turbulent time. In an interview, Bowser acknowledged the importance of the mural but shifted the city’s focus to addressing more pressing financial concerns as Trump’s administration aimed to cut federal jobs and influence the city’s autonomy.
“I’m not going to discuss specifics… but people didn’t like it,” Bowser remarked when asked if the mural’s removal was in response to White House pressure.
As workers began removing the mural, several onlookers, including two African American women, expressed dismay at the decision. One of them, a 54-year-old caregiver from Virginia, criticized the removal, saying, “It’s history… and now they’re basically saying it didn’t happen.” Her friend, Tajuana McCallister, a healthcare worker from Maryland, added, “Black history clearly doesn’t matter to him,” referencing Trump.
The mural, which symbolized solidarity and recognition of racial inequality, was seen as a message from leaders who cared about the Black Lives Matter movement. Its removal, the women felt, undermined that commitment.
