Crews began removing Washington D.C.'s iconic "Black Lives Matter" street mural Monday morning, nearly four years after its bold creation became a powerful symbol during nationwide protests following George Floyd’s murder.

The mural, painted in June 2020 on 16th Street, just blocks from the White House, consisted of giant yellow letters spanning two city blocks. It gained global recognition as an emblem of racial justice and solidarity during a pivotal summer marked by demonstrations against police brutality and systemic racism.

The city's Department of Transportation (DDOT) said in a statement that the removal is part of broader reconstruction efforts aimed at redeveloping the area into a permanent public space. The construction is expected to last between six to eight weeks.

Mayor Muriel Bowser initially promised to preserve the mural as a lasting tribute to the activism it inspired. However, the decision to repaint the area followed recent political pressures from Congress. Rep. Andrew Clyde, R-Ga., introduced legislation demanding the mural's removal and suggested renaming the space "Liberty Plaza," threatening significant federal funding cuts to the city if it refused compliance.

Bowser strongly criticized Clyde's intervention as "meaningless congressional interference," expressing frustration via social media.

"The mural inspired millions and helped our city through a very painful period," Bowser said on the platform X, formerly Twitter. "But now we can't afford to be distracted."

In response to criticism, Bowser announced the area would become part of D.C.'s America 250 mural project, which seeks to engage local students and artists to create new murals across the district's eight wards ahead of the nation's 250th anniversary.

"It’s going to evolve," Bowser told NPR’s Morning Edition. She described the mural's transformation as part of the city’s larger vision but offered few details about its future appearance.

While the mural’s removal is underway, reactions across the city have been mixed. Several residents gathered to witness its dismantling, expressing sadness and disappointment.

"There's no such thing as erasure," said Adrianne Lind, a D.C. resident who visited the plaza Monday morning. "If that's the attempt, it's just not possible. It's not just that we saw it—the whole world saw it."

The original mural came in the wake of Floyd’s death, who was murdered in Minneapolis by former police officer Derek Chauvin. Floyd's death triggered widespread protests demanding police reform, racial equality, and accountability nationwide. D.C.'s mural quickly became a landmark for activism and a symbolic space for protesters, who often gathered peacefully despite sometimes being met by forceful responses from federal authorities.

Community reactions to the mural's removal have been varied. Some residents gathered at the site Monday to witness its final moments, reflecting on its symbolic meaning.

"For me, this mural was more than paint—it was a reminder of what we stood for and how much work is still needed," local activist Jada Thompson said.

City officials emphasize that while the physical mural is being removed, the symbolic message of racial justice remains integral to the city's identity. Mayor Bowser stressed that future initiatives, including the America 250 project, will continue to honor the city’s diverse history and commitment to equity.

DDOT confirmed that reconstruction work on Black Lives Matter Plaza is expected to be completed by late spring, with the space reopening as a reimagined landmark in early summer.