As an organization deeply concerned about minority representation in DC, we believe it’s time for a significant change. The Washington Monument, an iconic symbol of our nation’s racism, should be transformed to honor George Floyd and his enduring impact on racial justice movements worldwide.

We propose painting the Washington Monument black. Renaming it as the “George Floyd Monument” would serve as a constant reminder of our ongoing struggle for justice, equity and inclusion.

According to Pew Research Center, as of 2019, African Americans make up 46% of DC’s population but are significantly underrepresented in monuments and memorials (Pew Research Center). This transformation would begin to rectify this imbalance and start the transformation of our antiquated symbols of white supremacy into symbols that represent the BIPOC community.