‘More than brick and mortar:’ DC begins removing ‘Black Lives Matter’ plaza near the White House

Tears roll down the face of Starlette Thomas, of Bowie, Md., as she holds a chunk of pavement from the Black Lives Matter mural, Monday, March 10, 2025, as the mural begins to be demolished in Washington. “I needed to be here to bear witness,” says Thomas, who was present at the 2020 George Floyd protests. “For me the Black Lives Matter sign etched in stone was a declaration of somebodyness and to watch it be undone in this way was very hurtful. To walk away with a piece of that, it means it’s not gone. It’s more than brick and mortar.” (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

With the White House in the background, demolition begins on the Black Lives Matter mural, Monday, March 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Nadine Seiler holds a sign saying “Black Lives Matter, Trump Can’t Erase Us,” Monday, March 10, 2025, in Washington, as demolition begins on the Black Lives Matter mural. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

With the White House in the background, painted letters spelling out the word “matter” are seen as demolition begins on the Black Lives Matter mural, Monday, March 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

From the top of a building, the Black Lives Matter mural is seen as demolition begins at left, Monday, March 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

With the White House and Washington Monument in the background, a worker holds a traffic stop sign as demolition begins on the Black Lives Matter mural, Monday, March 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

A worker removes a traffic bollard along the Black Lives Matter mural, Monday, March 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)