Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the completion of Black Lives Matter Plaza’s permanent installment in front of the White House on Thursday.
Bowser designated the two-block portion of 16th Street Northwest in front of the White House for the memorial to the Black Lives Matter movement in June 2020 during the riots that followed the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Large yellow letters reading “Black Lives Matter” mark the street, and the area is a pedestrian-only zone.
“When we created Black Lives Matter Plaza in June 2020, we sent a strong message that Black Lives Matter and that power has always been and always will be with well-meaning people,” Bowser said in a press release from her office. “Today, we have transformed the mural into a monument.”
“One of my proudest memories of Black Lives Matter Plaza is when, in his final days, Congressman John Lewis came to see it for himself,” she continued. “He recognized Black Lives Matter Plaza as good trouble, and we know it will remain a gathering place for reflection, planning and action, as we work toward a more perfect union.”
The Council of the District of Columbia approved renaming the area in October 2020.
“With 16th Street NW being a critical federal highway route and the collaboration needed among all local stakeholders, this was a very large and prominent project for our team,” said District Department of Transportation Director Everett Lott. “We are very proud that with the Mayor’s support, we were able to implement an accelerated work schedule and so quickly deliver it as a national landmark for everyone to enjoy.”
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The work to transform BLM Plaza into a permanent memorial cost $4.8 million, according to the release. An additional $3 million will be invested into the project in the coming months to reconstruct sidewalks, install commemorative works, and add benches, lighting, signage, and trees to the area.
