Black Lives Matter Plaza Gets Erased—But the Statues of White Supremacists Still Stand
If they’re so worried about “divisive symbols,” why are Confederate leaders still standing in the Capitol?
In America, Black life is seen as more dangerous than the most heinous of statues. While Republicans celebrate Confederate generals, segregationists, and genocidal presidents in the nation’s capital, they have successfully erased one of the most prominent modern symbols of racial justice: Black Lives Matter Plaza.
The removal of the mural and renaming of the plaza shows, once again, that Republican lawmakers are more offended by the words "Black Lives Matter" than by the actions of the blatantly terrible men enshrined in bronze and marble throughout Washington, D.C. Their priorities are clear: erase messages of equality, but keep up monuments to white supremacy.
The History of Black Lives Matter Plaza
The Black Lives Matter mural was painted in June 2020 in direct response to the killing of George Floyd and the subsequent protests against police brutality. It was a bold statement from Washington, D.C.'s local government, claiming space near the White House for racial justice. The words "Black Lives Matter" stretched across two blocks of 16th Street Northwest, turning the street into a pedestrian-only zone. The plaza became a gathering place for protests, celebrations, and moments of reflection.
The Trump administration and its supporters despised the mural from the start. Republican lawmakers repeatedly called for its removal, branding it as divisive and unpatriotic. The plaza was a constant reminder of police brutality, racial injustice, and a nationwide movement that could not be ignored.
Fast-forward to 2025, and Representative Andrew Clyde (R-GA) introduced legislation threatening to strip Washington, D.C. of millions in federal funding unless the mural was erased and the plaza renamed. Mayor Muriel Bowser ultimately complied, saying the city needed to prioritize economic stability over symbolic gestures. With the stroke of a jackhammer, Black Lives Matter Plaza will be no more.
The Monuments That Remain
While Republicans pushed to erase Black Lives Matter Plaza, they have fought tooth and nail to preserve statues and monuments that glorify white supremacy. If the goal is to remove divisive symbols, here are a few that should go first:
1. Charles Aycock Statue
Aycock, North Carolina's so-called "education governor," was instrumental in the 1898 Wilmington Massacre—the only successful coup in U.S. history in which a white supremacist mob overthrew a multiracial government. Aycock openly bragged about disenfranchising Black citizens, believing they were unfit to govern themselves. Yet, his statue still stands in the U.S. Capitol.
2. Andrew Jackson Statue in Lafayette Square
Jackson’s legacy is one of genocidal violence against Indigenous peoples and the brutal enslavement of Black Americans. He spearheaded the Indian Removal Act, which led to the Trail of Tears, a forced migration that killed thousands of Native Americans. He was also an avid slave trader who put bounties on runaway enslaved people, offering bonuses for those who beat them before returning them. His statue still stands proudly just steps from the White House.
3. The Capitol Rotunda Paintings Depicting Colonization
Inside the U.S. Capitol, massive murals glorify the violent conquest of Indigenous people. These include "The Baptism of Pocahontas" and "Discovery of the Mississippi by De Soto," which sanitize and romanticize colonization rather than acknowledge the brutal displacement and genocide of Native Americans.
4. The Confederate Statues in the Capitol
Despite years of debate, Confederate figures like Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee still hold places of honor in the U.S. Capitol. These men committed treason against the United States in defense of slavery. Yet, their statues remain untouched, defended by the same lawmakers who demanded the removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza.
The Priorities Are Clear
The removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza sends a chilling message: America’s power structure is more comfortable venerating white supremacists than allowing a public space to proclaim the value of Black lives. This is not about preserving history; it is about controlling which histories get told. When given the choice, Republican lawmakers opted to erase a message of equality while preserving monuments to those who built their legacies on racial oppression. And unfortunately, it feels like no one can do anything about it.
Why Independent Voices Matter More Than Ever
History can’t hide, but it can be erased if we don’t fight for it. The removal of Black Lives Matter Plaza shows how easily racial justice symbols vanish while monuments to white supremacy endure. This isn’t just about one mural—it’s about who controls history.
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References
Robertson, Campbell, and Jacey Fortin. "Pressed by Republicans, D.C. Begins Removing Black Lives Matter Mural." The New York Times, March 10, 2025.
Kim, Juliana. "D.C.'s Black Lives Matter Mural Will Be Erased. Look Back at the Iconic Street Painting." NPR, March 8, 2025.
Markovich, Jeremy. "Why's It Taking So Long to Get Rid of North Carolina's White Supremacist Statues at the U.S. Capitol?" North Carolina Rabbit Hole, July 27, 2023.
Couch, Beth. "Will the Nation Reckon with Andrew Jackson’s Enduring Racist Legacy?" Nonprofit Quarterly, June 29, 2020.
Williams, Elliot C. "Reports That the ‘Only Confederate Statue’ in D.C. Came Down Missed a Whole Lot at the U.S. Capitol." WAMU 88.5, June 20, 2020.
If Black Lives Matter Plaza was considered too ‘divisive,’ should the same standard apply to statues of leaders who upheld slavery and genocide? Where should we draw the line?
Some argue that removing the plaza is just a city planning decision, while others see it as an erasure of racial justice history. Where do you stand on this?