Black Lives Matter Plaza mural near the White House

On June 5, 2020, the D.C. government painted the words 'BLACK LIVES MATTER' in large yellow letters on 16th Street NW leading to Lafayette Square, and the adjacent section of 16th Street was designated 'Black Lives Matter Plaza.' The mural and plaza received extensive national and international attention and were widely shared across social media platforms. The site became a focal point for protests, photography, and online discussion during the 2020 racial justice demonstrations.