DC museums seek to preserve art posted to fence around White House: report

Some Washington, D.C., museums have reportedly mounted an effort to preserve the dozens of posters, signs and works of art placed on the fencing around the White House in wake of the protests following the death of George Floyd. 

Officials at the African American Museum of History and Culture and other local venues launched the effort earlier this week after the National Park Service announced it would would start removing the additional barriers placed around Lafayette Square, according to The Washington Post. 

The barriers had been added in areas surrounding the White House as demonstrations grew in response to the death of Floyd, a black man who was killed after a white Minneapolis police officer knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes. 

In the days since the fencing was erected, the barrier became a makeshift memorial and sounding board, full of tributes to victims of police brutality and messages calling for an end to systemic racism. 

By Monday, the fencing was overwhelmed with “Black Lives Matter” posters and signs denouncing President Trump and calling to “defund the police.” Several signs included the phrase, “I can’t breathe,” a reference to Floyd’s cries for help as the officer knelt on his neck. 

“If you are more upset by how we are protesting than why we are protesting… you are part of the problem,” one sign read. 

“Breathe free,” another read. 

The fencing around Lafayette Square was installed on June 2, a day after law enforcement used smoke canisters and other aggressive tactics to disperse protesters peacefully demonstrating, minutes before Trump walked through the area for a photo-op at nearby St. John’s Episcopal Church. 

Fencing around the south side of Lafayette Square was removed on Wednesday. The Secret Service told The Hill that it is in “continuing discussions” with the U.S. Park Police regarding the temporary security fencing around Lafayette Park. 

The Hill has reached out to the African American Museum of History and Culture for further comment.