Title

Protest Signs and Artwork on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, Date: 11 June 2020

Coverage

H Street NW and 16th Street NW, Washington, DC, USA

Description

Black chain link fence on the south side of H Street NW with evidence of protest signs that have been removed. A cardboard sign on a street light reads "They Matter." Underneath, are images of victims of police brutality.

Source

The Black Lives Matter Memorial fence was a temporary chainlink fence installed in the area north of Lafayette Park and the White House from June 2, 2020, until January 30, 2021. The fence prevented public access to the area, and it also served as an important site of protest and self-expression. 

Activist Nadine Seiler played a crucial role in protecting and caring for the fence, along with Karen Irwin and other activists in a loosely-formed group informally known as the "Guardians of the Fence." Nadine Seiler and Aliza Leventhal systematically documented the fence over the course of months, and Seiler became the de facto curator of the fence. 

Additional information: 

Library of Congress blog post "Protest Preserved: Signs from D.C.'s Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence" 

D.C. Public Library Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence Artifact Collection 

Rights

Photographer: Aliza Leventhal

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Publisher

Urban Art Mapping

Date

2020-06-11

Contributor

LA