# DC Mayor Muriel Bowser says city will repaint Black Lives Matter Plaza

## By Karissa Waddick

USA TODAY















Black Lives Matter

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DC to remove Black Lives Matter mural after Republican lawmaker threatens funding cuts

The move comes as congressional Republicans and President Donald Trump have threatened to revoke federal funding if the plaza is not repainted and renamed.

Bowser, a Democrat, appeared to address the legislation in a post on X, announcing the change Tuesday night.

"The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a very painful period, but now we can’t afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference," she said. "The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern."

The plaza will be repainted as part of a citywide mural project celebrating the country’s 250th birthday next year, Bowser said in the statement. When reached for comment Wednesday, the mayor’s office declined to reveal whether the city will also rename Black Lives Matter Plaza.

The D.C. chapter of Black Lives Matter decried the move as a “performative distraction from real policy changes"& at the time and said it was an attempt to “appease white liberals” while ignoring the movement's demands.

Black Lives Matter D.C. did not immediately respond to a request for comment about Bowser’s decision to remove the mural.

_Contributing: Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY_

















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