Death of George Floyd: White House barriers covered with demands

Audio 01:25

The fence around Lafayette Square at the scene where the protesters clashed with the police following the death in police custody of George Floyd in Minneapolis, near the White House in Washington, this Tuesday, June 8, 2020. REUTERS / Jonathan Ernst

Text by: Anne Corpet Follow

In Washington, Black Lives Matter activists are still camping outside the White House. The place renamed "Black Lives Matter" by the African-American mayor of the federal capital has become a place of meetings, discussions, and artistic expression. The security barrier that surrounds the White House has been covered over more than a hundred meters of signs, drawings, messages. Reportage.

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From our correspondent in Washington,

Nathan came from Maryland to hang the picture of George Floyd next to an American flag: “  There is anger and disappointment at the way black people are treated. By hanging all these messages people express the pain they have felt for years. "

Tarida and her son are photographed in front of messages and drawings that hide the view of the White House.

"  They put this barrier here to keep people away. We can keep people away from a building, but we cannot prevent them from thinking. We cannot silence them. Everything ends up coming out and I think that's what's going on here.  "

Many African Americans come to be photographed in front of: "we transformed a negative message, the barrier, into a positive message, full of hope" says this mother from Maryland with her son pic.twitter.com/PinaiUdLbF

  anne corpet (@annecorpet) June 9, 2020

A little further, Moïse paints a brown rainbow on the plywood that protects the windows of a restaurant. "  We were conditioned to think that brown is not beautiful when it is a beautiful color  ," he says.

John Chasam has obtained authorization from many shops to decorate the boards that hide their storefronts. “  We are moving from a message that means damage, destruction, violence to the expression of love, hope and inspiration. It is important.  ", He explains.

Pat, who is exasperated before a fresco, confirms: “  These paintings are magnificent, they are extraordinary. They talk about opportunity, equality, change and change is happening in the United States. "

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  • United States
  • Racism
  • Social issues
  • Donald trump

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