Protest signs and artwork on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, Date: 29 September 2020

Title
Protest signs and artwork on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, Date: 29 September 2020
Coverage
H Street NW and 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C., 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.

There is a sticker that reads "#BlackVOTERSMatter" and then a large orange sign that reads "Watch for Black Lives" which has two stickers on them. There is a poster next to it that reads "#Killuminati," "#DumpTrump," "#Kyleisamurderer," "G#eorgeFloyd," "#JacobBlake," "#PaulCastaway," "#KKKOPS," "#ElijahMcClain," "#MenomineeStrong," "#Resist," "#Respect" "#Unity," "#KnowJusticeKnowPeace," "#NoJusticeNoPeace."

Next to it is a black t-shirt that reads "#justiceforjamarionrobinson" and "76 Bullets" underneath it. Above the shirt, there is a poster of two raised fists that are drawn with permanent marker and has two large blue marks over the hands. Next to the raised fists is a drawn poster of Colin Kaepernick taking a knee and a sticker that reads "Being Black in America is Exhausting, Y'all want us to Sing, Dance, Play Football, Shoot Basketball, Be Target Practice and Be Quiet." There are multiple other posters that read "#Get off our Necks!! #Get off our Necks!! BLM," "Asians for Black Lives," "Black Lives Matter," and another poster that has been cut off, but reads "ampliFy black voices, encoUrage black roles, proTect black cHildren, rEspect black oPinions, exOnerate bLack pr...[illegible]..., save blaCk livEs."

On a pillar there are multiple posters where there is a drawing of a black man with a noose around his neck and the years "2020" "1920" and "1820" written on it. Another drawing of a man with blue coloring with a thought bubble that reads "Black Lives Matters, Black Votes Too." Next to this is a green colored drawing of a woman who lost her life to police brutality. Written on the pillar are the words "Race Wars are Contrived love each other GATHER" and two hearts are drawn next to this. Next to this statement reads "Masks Are Muzzles," "Tump - Pence = Trumpets". There is a poster that is partley faded and the words that are still visible to be read are "If you'e tired about Racism...[illegible]...now tired people are of...[illegible]..."

On another pillar there is a poster that has photographs of George Floyd on May 25, 2020 and Delbert Africa on August 8, 1978. The poster reads, "They are still PIGS!" and "Black Community Control of Police!" There is a white canvas underneath the poster with black glitter paint that has a heart and reads "It could all be simple." At the top of the pillar is a poster with a hand holding the peace sign and the earth is the palm with red, yellow, white, and black beams coming from behind the hand. Next to this poster is a picture of the cover of a book named "Free from Slavery Not Free from Racism, Written & Illustrated by Vince Cowan"
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
2020-09-29
Contributor
MM
Identifier
UAM-GF_3709

Files

Citation

“Protest signs and artwork on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, Date: 29 September 2020,” George Floyd & Anti-Racist Street Art , accessed January 14, 2026, https://georgefloydstreetart.omeka.net/items/show/3709.

Geolocation