Protesters vandalize 'Black Lives Matter' mural, plus paint new "Defund The Police" mural
WASHINGTON (WJLA) — The massive "Black Lives Matter" mural that gained worldwide attention late last week has been vandalized.
At some point during Saturday's peaceful protests along 16th Street NW — now called "Black Lives Matter Plaza" — a person (or persons) spray painted at least half a dozen biting, expletive-laden messages. Some of the tag lines took aim at D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser while others focussed directly on law enforcement.
Some of the Spray-Painted Messages:
- "Cops Got Me Hot. Bowser Got Me Hotter."
- "This 'Mural' Ain't Doing Sh**."
- "Stop This. Defund Police."
- "Fu** the 'Mural' Change the System."
- "We Want Change Not a 'Mural.'"
Mayor Bowser commissioned the mural, which spans two city blocks, as a way to commemorate the struggle and progressive movement of the black race. Yet, the piece of public art drew scrutiny, even before Saturday's acts of vandalism. The D.C. chapter of the Black Lives Matter Global Network, for example, called it "performative."
"This is a performative distraction from real policy changes," the group tweeted on Friday morning. "Bowser has consistently been on the wrong side of BLMDC history. This is to appease white liberals while ignoring our demands. Black Lives Matter means defund the police."
In that spirit, around 9 p.m. Saturday, members of Black Lives Matter D.C. painted “DEFUND THE POLICE" in large yellow letters on 16th Street NW, directly south of the "Black Lives Matter" mural.
A crowd of a few hundred people encircled the painters as they used brushes, buckets, and poles to write the new, unsanctioned message, which bears a strong resemblance to the "Black Lives Matter" mural. Once the impromptu painting was complete, protesters began to jubilantly dance in the street.
The "Defund The Police" mural was painted on 16th Street, between The Hay-Adams Hotel and St. John's Episcopal Church. On Monday, President Trump held a photo op in front of the historic house of worship. The U.S. Park Police fired chemicals at peaceful protesters to clear that area for the present. That action resulted in scores of criticism from political leaders including Mayor Bowser.
As of noon Sunday, D.C.'s Department of Public Works had not removed the "Defund The Police" mural.
