Through her actions, Bowser, who belongs to the Democrats, also makes clear that she supports the movement after the square was named - and what she thinks of Republican President Donald Trump.

A little north of the White House, the words Black Lives Matter have been painted in large yellow letters along the street leading up to the presidential building.

"The 16th street in front of the White House is now officially the Black Lives Matter site," Bowser tweeted on Friday.

"Should be"

A street sign has also been set up with the new name.

"Determined to make America the country it should be," Bowser continues on Twitter.

The scene is linked to the scenes that took place outside the White House in conjunction with holding Trump's speech to the nation at the beginning of the week.

Protest against police violence

Protesters who had gathered to protest racism and police violence were dispersed by police tear gas, distraction grenades and rubber-clad bullets. The purpose seems to have been to clear the street of protesters before the president would visit a vandalized church across the street from the White House. Trump allowed himself to be photographed and filmed in front of the church with a Bible in his hand.

Recent turmoil in the United States has flared up after May 25, when 46-year-old George Floyd, a black American, died following a brutal police intervention in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Black Lives Matter is an activist network that organizes protests against violence - usually police violence - carried out against black people.