Black Lives Matter mural removed in Washington DC after Republican threat to withhold city funding

Construction crews have begun dismantling a large Black Lives Matter mural in Washington DC.

The workers used excavators to drill and remove the large yellow letters painted on the road at Black Lives Matter Plaza on 10 March. The mural is located one block from the White House.

The move comes as DC mayor Muriel Bowser said the plaza would be redesigned as part of a new mural project after threats by Republicans to cut transportation funding if the area was not renamed.

Democrat Bowser named the plaza in 2020 in response to Donald Trump deploying police and military officers to quell protests over the murder of George Floyd during his first term as president.