DC paints ‘Black Lives Matter’ on street

WASHINGTON - The mayor of Washington, DC, had the slogan “Black Lives Matter” painted in massive yellow letters on a street leading to the White House on Friday in tribute to victims of police brutality as she sparred with US President Donald Trump.

Mayor Muriel Bowser’s defiant message came as tensions remained high across the nation over the death of a black man, George Floyd, in Minneapolis police custody nearly two weeks ago, prompting political leaders in that city and elsewhere to announce new restrictions on law enforcement.

“Breonna Taylor, on your birthday, let us stand with determination,” Ms Bowser, a Democrat, wrote on Twitter in reference to a 26-year-old black woman who was shot dead by Louisville, Kentucky police in March. “Determination to make America the land it ought to be.”

Ms Bowser and Mr Trump, a Republican, are at odds over the president’s use of federal law enforcement agencies and military police to put down demonstrations. US Park Police fired smoke grenades and chemical irritant “pepper balls” to break up a protest on Monday night so Mr Trump could walk from the White House to a nearby church for a photo opportunity.

“We want troops from out-of-state, out of Washington, DC,” Ms Bowser, who has called for the District of Columbia to be granted US statehood, told reporters on Thursday.

The city also installed a street sign for “Black Lives Matter Plaza” at the intersection of H and 16th Streets.

Picture: Khalid NajiAllah Executive Office of the Mayor Mayor Muriel Bowser looks out over a Black Lives Matter sign that was painted on a street, during nationwide protests against the death in Minneapolis police custody of George Floyd, in Washington, DC.