As national policies challenge diversity and inclusion, local activists are working to preserve Black Lives Matter murals across the country. According to Urban Art Mapping, nearly 150 murals still remain, upheld by communities committed to justice and remembrance.
In Washington, D.C., the original “BLACK LIVES MATTER” mural near the White House was removed in March by Mayor Muriel Bowser after congressional pressure. Once a symbol of 2020 protests, its absence now highlights the ongoing fight to preserve similar works.
In Hartford, Connecticut, a BLM mural on Trinity Street, painted by different artists for each letter, was defaced with a swastika but restored in 2023. Artist Andre Rochester, who contributed in both 2020 and 2023, emphasized the mural’s enduring impact and the city’s support.
In Chicago’s Oak Park, a 100-foot mural was altered to say “All Lives Matter” before being repaired. Seattle’s Capitol Hill maintains a permanent BLM mural, with another added near City Hall in 2021. Both are preserved by the city and the Vivid Matter Collective, which plans a repaint this June.
Tyrone Motley, who painted Hartford’s letter “V,” noted the long-term value of these murals. “Work like this is ageless,” he said, pointing to their ability to continue conveying meaning even as similar artworks disappear.
