Washington, DC – Ahead of next Friday’s historic vote on DC statehood, Mayor Muriel Bowser has commissioned #MuralsDC51, a project to create 51 statehood, Black history, and social justice themed murals across all eight wards. The first mural project begins today at 201 Bryant Street, NW.
“On Juneteenth, we celebrate our progress while uplifting the change that still needs to happen in order to build a more fair and more just America. Over the past several weeks, Americans nationwide have realized the urgency of achieving DC statehood, and we go into next week’s vote with support pouring in from across the country,” said Mayor Bowser. “As more Americans learn about and join our fight for statehood, these murals will reflect our local pride and our commitment to seeing this fight through to the end – until we are officially the 51st state.”
The murals will be created by local artists, and the project is part of the Murals DC program housed at the Department of Public Works. #MuralsDC51 is being supported by the Department of Public Works, EventsDC, and the DC Housing Finance Agency. Residents and visitors are encouraged to post pictures of these and other murals using the hashtag #MuralsDC51.
With more than enough cosponsors to pass H.R. 51, next Friday will mark the first time DC statehood is approved by a chamber of Congress.
“The District of Columbia is on the cusp of a historic vote on DC statehood in the US House of Representatives. What better way to mark this moment than public works of art to express our enthusiasm for the change we are seeking,” said Senior Advisor to the Mayor, Beverly Perry.
Today’s #MuralsDC51 announcement comes as DC joins states and cities across the country in celebrating Juneteenth, the holiday that commemorates the day when a quarter of a million enslaved persons in Texas learned of their freedom, two and a half years after the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. In addition to recognizing Juneteenth, the District also celebrates Emancipation Day on April 16, marking the date in 1862 when enslaved men and women in Washington, DC were freed eight months before the Emancipation Proclamation.