Black Lives Matter Plaza facts for kids
| Black Lives Matter Plaza Northwest | |
Part of the mural reading "Black Lives Matter" painted in June 2020
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| Namesake | Black Lives Matter |
|---|---|
| Maintained by | DDOT |
| Location | Downtown Washington, DC |
| Nearest metro station |     McPherson Square |
| Coordinates | 38°54′3.506″N 77°2′11.548″W / 38.90097389°N 77.03654111°W |
| North end |  US 29 (K Street, NW) |
| South end | H Street, NW at Lafayette Square of President's Park |
| Construction | |
| Commissioned | June 5, 2020 |
Black Lives Matter Plaza (officially Black Lives Matter Plaza Northwest) is a special two-block-long street area in Downtown Washington, D.C.. It is part of 16th Street NW. On June 5, 2020, Mayor Muriel Bowser officially renamed this section. This happened after the Department of Public Works painted the words "Black Lives Matter" on the street. These words are in large, yellow capital letters, about 35 feet (11 meters) tall. The flag of Washington, D.C. was also painted. This artwork was created during the George Floyd protests.
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Why Was It Named?
The George Floyd Protests
On June 5, 2020, during the George Floyd protests, the DC Public Works Department painted the words "Black Lives Matter" on 16th Street NW. This street is just north of Lafayette Square. This area is part of President's Park, very close to the White House. The DC flag was painted next to the words.
Mayor Bowser's Decision
Mayor Muriel Bowser announced the renaming of the street to Black Lives Matter Plaza. She said it was important to recognize people who wanted to be heard. She explained that the city had a chance to send a clear message on an important street. In October 2020, the DC City Council voted to keep the name permanently. Many people saw this renaming as a key part of the protests themselves. The decision to rename the street followed a tradition in Washington, D.C., of renaming city streets for special purposes.
Where Is It Located?
Black Lives Matter Plaza is a two-block section of 16th Street NW. It starts south of K Street NW and goes through I Street. It ends north of H Street NW. This area is on the north side of President's Park. It is in the Downtown neighborhood of Northwest D.C..
Cars cannot enter the plaza directly. Barricades block the right side of the street. However, emergency vehicles can still use the left side. Cars can still cross 16th Street NW on K and I streets.
Reactions to the Plaza
Park Police Actions
The United States Park Police responded to the public gatherings at the plaza. They put up a temporary security barrier. This barrier was about 7 feet (2 meters) tall and made of chain-link fence. Protesters used this fence to post messages.
Legal Challenges
A group of organizations filed a lawsuit on June 12, 2020. They sued Mayor Bowser over the renaming of the plaza. The lawsuit argued that Black Lives Matter is a religious group. They claimed that renaming the plaza supported a religion. This, they said, went against the idea of separation of church and state. The lawsuit asked for the mural to be removed. It also asked for the plaza to be given a different, more neutral name.
Images for kids
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Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C., as seen from space on June 8, 2020
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See also
In Spanish: Black Lives Matter Plaza para niños
