Protest signs and artwork on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, Date: 22 July 2020

Title

Protest signs and artwork on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, Date: 22 July 2020

Coverage

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

Description

Protest signs and posters on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, located on the north side of Lafayette Park in Washington D.C.

One of the signs informs readers to know their rights. It reads:

1. Freedom of expression and amnesty
2. Protection of the right to freedom of assembly
3. Freedom from excessive use of force
4. Right to medical assistance
5. Freedom from arbitrary arrest and detention
6. Right to complain

Other signs read "Use Your White Privilege For Good Demand Justice!!!," "Injustice anywhere Is a THREAT to Justice Every Where," and "If All Lives Matter... Then Why Are We Here?" 

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

2020-07-22

Contributor

LA

Identifier

UAM-GF_3650