How Did Congress Get Rid of Black Lives Matter Plaza? | Zack Smith

Heritage Explains

Heritage Podcast Network

Education

4.6 • 808 Ratings

🗓️ 26 March 2025

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the summer of 2020, with the George Floyd Riots in full swing, DC Mayor Muriel Bowser decided that 16th Avenue would gain a new status in American history. She designated the two block section of the Avenue closest to the white house as Black Lives Matter Plaza. The slogan was painted in 35-foot yellow letters on the street. Whether they wanted to or not, DC residents and visitors were forced to see them day in and day out. No doubt, the mayor and her allies believed they were symbolically staking the nation’s capitol as beholden to that morally questionable movement forever. But it was not to be forever.

In March of this year, DC workers have been seen removing the letters from Black Lives Matter plaza. The street is being returned to a normal pedestrian and traffic thoroughfare, free from political sloganeering. How did this happen?

To tell that story, I’m joined on the podcast by Heritage Senior Legal Fellow Zack Smith.

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Follow Zack Smith on X: https://x.com/tzsmith

Zack’s work at Heritage.org: https://www.heritage.org/staff/zack-smith

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Have thoughts? Let us know at [email protected]

Transcript

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0:00.0	Three, two, one, zero, all engine run.
0:06.7	There is no other institution that has the ability uniquely.
0:11.3	Without a heritage, every generation starts over.
0:14.5	To remind the current regime.
0:18.6	We the people tell the governor what it is allowed to do.
0:22.4	All for action to get back in their box and stay there.
0:28.0	Lift-off.
0:28.9	We have a lift-down.
0:31.8	From the Heritage Foundation, this is Heritage Explains.
0:46.4	Thank you. This is Heritage Explains. 16th Avenue Northwest is one of the better-known streets, making up the geometric grid of our nation's capital.
0:53.7	It starts just north of the White House at Lafayette Square and extends north through the city.
0:58.8	Because of its location, this street has seen embassies and agencies, churches and synagogues, libraries, and memorials.
1:06.6	In the summer of 2020, with the George Floyd riots in full swing, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser
1:11.7	decided that 16th Avenue would gain a new status in American history.
1:16.7	She designated the two-block section of the avenue closest to the White House as Black Lives Matter Plaza.
1:23.1	The slogan was painted in 35-foot yellow letters on the street.
1:27.2	Whether they wanted to or not, D.C. residents and visitors were forced to see them day in and day out.
1:33.3	No doubt, the mayor and her allies believed they were symbolically staking the nation's capital
1:38.3	as beholden to that morally questionable movement forever.
1:42.3	But it was not to be forever. In March of this year,
1:45.7	D.C. workers have been seen removing the letters from Black Lives Matter Plaza. The street is
1:50.5	being returned to a normal pedestrian and traffic thoroughfare, free from political sloganeering.
	...

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