U.S. Rep. John Lewis made an early morning stop at Washington’s 16th Street to take in a new mural authorized by Mayor Muriel Bowser.
A reporter for the local Fox affiliate caught his reaction to the two-block-long art piece that includes the phrase “Black Lives Matter.”
"It's very moving. Very moving. Impressive," Lewis said, according to Stephanie Ramirez. "I think the people in DC and around nation are sending a mightily powerful and strong message to the rest of the world that we will get there."
Both Ramirez and the Washington Post's Jonathan Capehart posted photos of Lewis touring the area and greeting onlookers.
Congressman John Lewis visited now Black Lives Matter Plz this AM. Told me on protests:
— Stephanie Ramirez (@RamirezReports) June 7, 2020
‘It’s very moving. Very moving. Impressive. I think the people in DC and around nation are sending a mightily powerful and strong message to the rest of the world that we will get there.’ pic.twitter.com/6MhdcGsaQ0
HISTORIC! @repjohnlewis visits BLACK LIVES MATTER Plaza with @MayorBowser. An honor to witness it. pic.twitter.com/4f2vf8tSoh
— Jonathan Capehart (@CapehartJ) June 7, 2020
Lewis, 80, is considered one of the last living Civil Rights movement leaders. The Atlanta Democrat's opinion was widely sought after this week when protests erupted nationwide over police brutality and systemic racism.
Muriel commissioned the piece and had it painted on a road that is just blocks away from the White House. She also renamed this portion of the road Black Lives Matter Plaza.
The mayor unveiled the mural on Friday, which was also the 27th birthday of a Kentucky woman killed by police after they erroneously entered her apartment while executing a search.
“Breonna Taylor, on your birthday, let us stand with determination,” Bowser wrote on Twitter. “Determination to make America the land it ought to be.”
The mural is so large that satellites have picked up the image from space.
Read more: John Lewis: 'Serious mistake' to use troops to break up protests
Also: Reactions mixed after Rep. John Lewis rebukes protest violence
More: Five things to know About Congressman John Lewis
Breonna Taylor, on your birthday, let us stand with determination.
— Mayor Muriel Bowser (@MayorBowser) June 5, 2020
Determination to make America the land it ought to be. pic.twitter.com/XOfu6CGEGY
— Planet (@planetlabs) June 5, 2020
About the Author
