Three Smithsonian museums are preserving the items so Americans can « understand the role that race has played in our complicated 400-year history. »
Curators from three Smithsonian museums have begun collecting signs and other objects from Black Lives Matter protests that were held outside the White House and other places in Washington D. C. The Smithsonian said in a statement Thursday that it wants to preserve items so Americans can « understand the role that race has played in our complicated 400-year history. »
The death of George Floyd ignited protests throughout the country, including D. C.’s Lafayette Square, a public park located north of the White House. The area itself became part of the national discussion around the protests after authorities cleared the park of protesters and President Trump held a controversial photo-op in front of a church. After the incident, metal fencing was raised around the White House and it became a makeshift memorial amid the demonstrations.
The National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), the National Museum of American History and the Anacostia Community Museum have formed a coalition to preserve and document « expressions of protests and hope » from the park, according to the Smithsonian.
