Washington DC paints a huge “Black Lives Matter” message on its way to the White House

Washington DC paints a huge “Black Lives Matter” message on its way to the White House

A huge banner-like project stretches across two blocks of 16th Street, the central axis leading south straight toward the White House. Each of the 16 bold, yellow letters spans the width of the two-lane street, creating a unique visual that is easily spotted by aerial cameras and almost anyone within a few blocks.

The painters contacted DC Mayor Muriel Bowser and began work early Friday morning, the mayor’s office told CNN. Bowser officially considered it part of 16th Street wearing a mural “Black Lives Matter Plaza”, complemented by a new street sign.

Bowser told reporters outside St. John’s Church next to Lafayette Park that she and members of the DC Council were there “like Washington – we just all want to be together in peace to demonstrate that in America – you can gather peacefully, you can bring complaints to your government and you can ask for changes. “

“We’re as peaceful here as Americans, on American streets, on DC streets,” Bowser said, seeming to point to a recent conflict she had with the federal government over their police attempts on DC streets.

Washington hosted more than a week of protests in response to George Floyd’s death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. St. John’s Church, the site of President Trump’s sharply criticized fotoopp during a peaceful protest, sits next to a road that now carries the BLM message. It will continue this weekend, including the one on Saturday that is expected to have a high turnout.

CORRECTION: This piece has been updated with new information that the painting was commissioned by the Mayor of Washington.

Paul Murphy and Nicky Robertson of CNN contributed to this report

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