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Black Lives Matter Plaza

    In early March, 2025, Mayor Bowser announced the imminent removal of the street mural and identifying street signs at Black Lives Matter Plaza, in SMD 2C02. On March 9, 2025, the afternoon before the arrival of the bulldozers, I conducted Constituent Service Open Hours in the Plaza, and we experienced the witness of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity.

    A year later, the District Department of Transportation (DDOT) made a presentation before Commission 2C for a “16th Street Beautification Project.” I made the following presentation:

    March 10, 2026: ANC 2C DDOT “16th Street Beautification” Project

    Ironically, today is an anniversary: one year ago today, the jackhammers and bulldozers arrived at Black Lives Matter Plaza. Six days earlier, Mayor Bowser had released a Statement that read in part:

    We have long considered Black Lives Matter Plaza’s evolution and the plaza will be part of DC’s America 250 mural project, where we will invite students and artists to create new murals across all eight Wards.

    A year ago yesterday, I held constituent service open-air-office hours in the pedestrian median area of the Plaza, and we witnessed members of the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity pray, sing and honor the significance of the mural. I am also reminded of the presentation I heard by DC enslavement historian CR Gibbs at a 2025 Emancipation Day event, elaborating his research into the history of enslaved residents in Lafayette Square and Decatur House, and that enslaved residents’ remains could very well be present under our modern Square and neighborhood.

    Since DDOT was gracious in giving me an individual briefing on this Project a few weeks ago, I have been soliciting constituent input focused mostly in my own Single Member District 2C02, as well as other contacts throughout Ward 2, as we are the residents, organizations, and businesses who directly witness and bear the hosting nature of what the 800 and 900 blocks of 16th Street has become. One 2C02 constituent captured many of the comments in one email:

    Regarding the plan to fill the median with plants, I have several thoughts. With the East Wing construction possibly ongoing for many years, the White House has basically removed all public access to Lafayette Park. Lafayette Park serves both as a nice green space in the city and as a historical location for protesting. There are endless examples, including the one that led to the creation of Black Lives Matter Plaza. One prominent example of long-term protest in Lafayette Park was the White House Peace Vigil that ran from 1981 when William Thomas started it until it was unceremoniously removed on September 7th this past year. Making it harder to stand in or march through Black Lives Matter Plaza is a further insult after the removal of the letters last year by the Mayor. Our obeying the federal government in advance has only resulted in our city being occupied by troops, and I think we need to stand by the First Amendment for once instead of capitulating and allowing another public space to not be available for First Amendment activity.

    I have attempted polling of my constituents, and out of about 25 responses to the following choices, the results were roughly:

    1. A new street mural, with public input and diverse submissions 16%
    2. Leave the median blank and open until such time as DC has autonomy over our public art 80%
    3. Install landscaping in the median as proposed by the “16th Street Beautification” Project 4% (one response which suggested that if we must endure landscaping, that the color palette reflect the red-and-white colors of DC, such  as the DC State Tree Scarlet Oak https://os.dc.gov/page/dc-symbols and white-blooming magnolias)
    4. Other, please specify 0% (only one response suggesting specific public art that I counted as consistent with Choice A)

    Another comment came from a 2C02 community leader, after I flippantly referred to this Project as ‘lipstick on a pig:’

    It’s more than lipstick on a pig, it is “beauty” as a tool of silence.

    “Beauty” is in the eye of the beholder. The 16th Street median appears to some of us as a scar or open wound since March 10, 2025, and leaving it blank and open seems authentic to our times. Autonomy is Safe and Beautiful. Self-Determination is Safe and Beautiful. Democracy is Safe and Beautiful.

    Indeed, I believe that we in DC have a stewardship responsibility for the 800 and 900 blocks of 16th Street as the physical, visual, and symbolic path of 1st Amendment expression of ‘marching on the White House.’ Leaving the median open and accessible to pedestrians, very large numbers of them at times, is consistent with our Oath to preserve, protect, and defend not only the Constitution, including the 1st Amendment, but also the DC Home Rule Act.

    Questions if not answered by DDOT presentation:

    1. Is there an NOI for this Project that will be open for public comment?

    Answer: Yes, and I entered this presentation into the public record.

    • Can you confirm that there is no DC America 250 mural project?

    Answer: DDOT can neither confirm nor deny such a project.

    • Will your landscape design take into account the 1st Amendment uses of this space, both to accommodate very large numbers of pedestrians, and to have a sturdy installation?

    Answer: Noncommittal by DDOT.

    Motion: That ANC 2C is on record as in favor of DDOT accomplishing only the traffic safety and pedestrian safety portions of the “16th Street Beautification” Project, such as improved signage and measures to prevent illegal U-turns, without installing raised curbs or new landscaping. At a duly noticed, public, regular meeting of ANC 2C, with a quorum and 4 of 4 Commissioners present, the Motion passed by a vote of 2 Yay, 1 Nay, 1 Abstention.

    Black Lives Matter Plaza is still legally designated as such under D.C. Law 23-240; 67 DCR 13911. Only DC Council has the statutory authority to ceremonially name, rename, or remove the name of DC streets, removal of murals and signage notwithstanding.