The Black Lives Matter Movement
Police brutality and profiling of Black and African American individuals came into larger public view with the acquittal of Trayvon Martin’s murderer (2012) and sparked the Black Lives Matter movement in 2013, created by Alicia Garza, Patrisse Cullors, and Opal Tometi. BLM’s “mission is to eradicate white supremacy and build local power to intervene in violence inflicted on Black communities by the state and vigilantes.”
The BLM movement strives to center Black joy, counter violence, and create space for Black imagination and innovation. Since then, there have been numerous other killings of unarmed Black and African Americans at the hands of police officers, and rising prominence of race-fueled mass shootings. The increased visibility of injustice in “law enforcement” has spurred dialogue, protest, and calls for legislation to defund the police and regulate guns in the United States.
Black Lives Matter Plaza
The Black Lives Matter Plaza is a two-block-long pedestrian section of 16th Street NW in Downtown Washington, D.C. The DC Public Works Department and Murals DC team painted the 35 foot tall words during the series of George Floyd protests, with the support of the District Department of Transportation.
These blocks have become a site for celebrations, performances and foot traffic for local owned businesses. Since then it has been a tourist destination for those who visit Washington. The street stands as a gathering place for reflection, planning, and action.