Local government crews in Washington began removing the Black Lives Matter mural near the White House on Monday morning, nearly five years after it was painted. The mural, spelling “BLACK LIVES MATTER” in bright yellow letters, covered two blocks of 16th Street Northwest. It was created in June 2020, turning the pavement into a pedestrian zone called Black Lives Matter Plaza.

The mural was one of many painted across the United States that summer, often by Black artists who transformed public spaces into statements against racism. While the murals were never without critics—including activists who believed they lacked real structural impact—the one in Washington became a lasting symbol of protest in a place of political power.

The fate of the plaza has been in question since President Trump returned to the White House in January. Last week, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser announced that the mural would be removed, shortly after Representative Andrew Clyde, a Republican from Georgia, introduced legislation threatening to withhold millions of dollars in federal funds from the city unless the mural was taken down and the plaza renamed.

On Monday, a truck full of traffic barriers, rows of orange cones, and yellow tape covered the mural, while the sound of a jackhammer echoed through the downtown streets. “I think it’s very sad,” said Carolyn Foreman, a retired choral conductor from Little Rock, Arkansas, who watched the demolition. Foreman, a Black woman, said she understood the mayor’s decision but still found it unfortunate. “It’s like a monument.”

Her uncle, Elmer Beard, 87, took photos nearby and had stronger words about the mural’s removal and the history it evoked. “We’ve been through this before,” he said. Beard recalled the day in September 1957 when he watched the integration of Central High School in Little Rock. Then a college student, he remembered how National Guard members had to protect Black students and onlookers from an angry white mob. “This is an organized effort from the top of the U.S. government to take us down and back,” he said. Still, he remained hopeful, adding, “I’ve got faith that if it gets tough enough, we’ll come through.”

The mural was painted in response to the nationwide protests over the murder of George Floyd. It was created just days after federal authorities used chemical spray and smoke grenades to clear protesters near the White House so President Trump could walk to a historic church and pose for photos holding a Bible.

At a town hall last week, Bowser, a Democrat, acknowledged the mural’s significance in the city’s history but emphasized other priorities. “Now our focus is on making sure our residents and our economy survive,” she said. She did not confirm whether the removal was in direct response to congressional or White House pressure. She stated that the decision had been made some time ago and announced that the plaza would be redesigned as part of a citywide mural project commemorating the country’s 250th birthday.

Since Trump’s return to office, Washington has become increasingly vulnerable to federal intervention. Republican lawmakers have introduced bills to strip the city of its autonomy, including a proposal to eliminate local elections altogether. Trump has publicly called for a federal takeover of Washington and has demanded in social media posts that the mayor “clean up the city.” His administration has also fired thousands of federal workers, which city officials estimate could cost Washington $1 billion in lost revenue over the next three years.

Washington’s ability to govern itself has always been limited, with all local legislation subject to congressional oversight and much of its criminal justice system controlled by the federal government. Bowser has balanced diplomacy and pragmatism in her dealings with Trump, visiting him at Mar-a-Lago before his inauguration and pledging to work with him on shared priorities.

The mural’s removal is expected to be a complex process due to its inlaid bricks and other structural features. The District Department of Transportation has estimated that reconstructing the plaza could take six to eight weeks.