Black Lives Matter Plaza To Be Permanent Feature Of The Capital, Mayor Says

Construction commenced on Monday to make the Black Lives Matter Plaza a permanent installation of Washington DC.

The DC Mayor, Muriel Browser, and the District Department of Transportation announced the news on Friday.

Construction to make #BlackLivesMatter Plaza a permanent installation will begin on Monday and is expected to conclude by October 1.

🚗 16th Street NW b/t H and K Sts will be closed to through traffic
🚶 Sidewalks will remain open to pedestrians

🔗 https://t.co/lHMNctSkds pic.twitter.com/6WoOp49DNv

— DDOT DC (@DDOTDC) July 16, 2021

They also reminded the public that there would be lane closures during the period of construction.

16th Street NW between H and K streets will close to through traffic, though sidewalks will remain open for pedestrians. Access to local businesses will also stay open.

Traffic controls are set to be in place to help guide movement around the area.

DDOT stated that the lane closures are necessary, as construction installs roadway pavers, bollards and the permanent Black Lives Matter mural itself.

Construction is planned to happen between 9.30am to 5.30pm and is expected to finish on October 1st.

Mayor Browser renamed the Washington DC plaza to Black Lives Matter Plaza back on June 5th, 2020.

The section of 16th street in front of the White House is now officially “Black Lives Matter Plaza”. pic.twitter.com/bbJgAYE35b

— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) June 5, 2020

The 35ft yellow capital letters reading ‘Black Lives Matter’ were painted on by the Department of Public Works as part of the 2020 George Floyd protests.

On May 25th, 2020, 46-year-old black man George Floyd died after being arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill. The arresting officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd’s neck for over nine minutes.

Derek Chauvin was found guilty of second-degree murder on April 20, 2021, and sentenced to 22 years in prison.

Following the murder of George Floyd, a series of large-scale protests swept the Nation. The protests stood against police brutality and racism.