Artwork from the Black Lives Matter memorial has a new home: the Library of Congress

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February 12, 2022

By Jonathan Franklin, NPR

Signs are hung on a fence at Lafayette Square near the White House, during ongoing protests against police brutality and racism in June 2020. *JOSE LUIS MAGANA/AFP via Getty Images*

The fence that once stood between protesters and the White House at Lafayette Park during the summer of 2020 (also known as the Black Lives Matter memorial), displayed hundreds of signs, posters and artwork left by protesters following the murder of George Floyd.

While authorities took down the fence in early 2021, activists made it their mission to preserve every artifact — knowing that each sign represents a part of the nation’s history.

Now, thanks to the help of activists and archivists, the pieces of artwork that once served as a memorial of the movement are being displayed in a new online exhibit on the Library of Congress’ website.

According to the Library, more than 30 pieces of artwork are now available online.

“[The Library] wants people to see those signs, the messages and contextualize them with other parts of our collection that talk about similar issues,” said Aliza Leventhal, head of technical services for the prints and photography division of the Library of Congress.

Keep reading to discover how these works of art found a new home here.

Check out our exhibit on June Jordan, who used poetry as activism.

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