Protest signs and artwork on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, Date: 13 November 2020

Title

Protest signs and artwork on the Black Lives Matter Memorial Fence, Date: 13 November 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 panoramic shot of the fence with the Washington Monument in the background. There are multiple flags, and sweatshirts attached to the fence as well as two people who are placing another flag on the fence. There are multiple chairs in front of the fence and two red stoplights that are shown. There is a large poster that reads “You’re FIRED You Stupid Fuck.” Other posters read “Resist” “Join Campaign Zero” “Loser” “Eviction Notice” “Black Power” and “Fuck Your Fence.”

There is a poster in a tree that reads “Protect Democracy From God” and behind a different fence a large black poster that reads “Black Lives Matter” with illegible wording underneath this because it’s blocked from the fence.

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 Levanthal

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Publisher

Urban Art Mapping

Date

2020-11-13

Contributor

MM

Identifier

UAM-GF_3750