The slogan "Black Lives Matter" painted in giant in front of the White House

The words "Black Lives Matter" written in capital letters, a place renamed in the name of this anti-racism movement in front of the White House: the Democratic town hall of Washington on Friday gave strong support to the demonstrators who have been protesting for a week against police violence and Donald Trump.

#BlackLivesMatter pic.twitter.com/OQg6977n5r

A collective of urban artists painted on one of the arteries leading to the presidential precinct the slogan denouncing police brutality against the black minority. It has been repeatedly used by protesters across the country since the death of George Floyd, a 46-year-old African American, at the hands of Minneapolis police on May 25.

The initiative, commissioned by the municipality of Washington, aims to "take the streets," commented AFP Rose Jaffe, one of the artists of the collective Mural DC, while regretting that it is "also a little a communication operation ”. "We must continue when the paint is gone," she added, asking in particular that "the police be held accountable."

200 meters long

The huge letters painted in yellow, which take the entire road over 200 meters, point to the small square directly opposite the White House, renamed Friday "Black Lives Matter Plaza", in the presence of the mayor of the American capital, Muriel Bowser.

Literially, the current ariel view of 16th street in Washington, DC headed towards the Whitehouse. Giant Black Lives Matter mural painted into the street. #BlackLivesMatterDC #blacklivesmatter pic.twitter.com/91NO2NNfsD

"There is a dispute over the jurisdiction of these streets", located near the White House, a federal territory, said the chief of staff of the mayor, John Falcicchio. "The mayor wanted it to be very clear that it is a city street and that it is in honor of the demonstrators who protested peacefully Monday evening.

"Incompetent"

On Monday, the forces protecting the White House violently pushed back the protesters gathered north of the White House, under the jurisdiction of the municipality. The goal was to clear the way for Donald Trump to walk to Saint John Church, an emblematic building nearby that had been degraded the previous evening by thugs, so that he could be photographed, bible at the hand.

Donald Trump assumed this force deployment, believing that the authorities should "dominate" the overflows. But the presence of these reinforcements exasperates Muriel Bowser, who asked the republican billionaire to withdraw these additional federal and military forces, believing that this only fanned the anger of "peaceful" demonstrators.

Local police, says Muriel Bowser, "are well equipped to handle large protests and first amendment activities" of the Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and demonstration. She also denounced the presence of “unidentified” security force elements in the city. She is even accused by Republican Utah Senator Mike Lee of having ordered that 1,200 National Guard soldiers, who depend on the Pentagon, leave the hotels in which they are staying.

The news did not leave Donald Trump indifferent. If the mayor of Washington "does not treat these men and women well, we will call on other groups," he replied in a tweet on Friday, calling the mayor "incompetent".

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