Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

Arts & Entertainment

New Yorkers Paint Giant Black Lives Matter Mural In Front Of Trump Tower In Manhattan

By

Ben Yakas

Published Jul 9, 2020

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .

A photo of people painting Black Lives Matter in front of Trump Tower on June 9th, 2020

 

C.S. Muncy/Gothamist

View all 6

By

Ben Yakas

Published Jul 9, 2020

Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail

We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Over the last month, Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced that several street murals would be painted in each of the five boroughs to commemorate the Black Lives Matter movement. So far they have gone up in Harlem, Lower Manhattan, Downtown Brooklyn, and Staten Island—and today, the city is painting one on Fifth Avenue between 56th and 57th streets, right in front of Trump Tower. In fact, facing Trump Tower.

Mayor de Blasio is in attendance for the painting, which started just after 11 a.m. on Thursday. We'll update once the full piece is done.

“I’m extremely proud to be here today. Black lives matter,” retired Manhattan resident Ellen Myers, 70, told the Post as she watched the painting happen. “This country has treated people of color less than whites, which has resulted in what we’re seeing go on in the news. This administration has encouraged racism in this country and I think this is the perfect place for this mural.”

After de Blasio first announced these plans a few weeks ago, Donald Trump expressed his anger over the idea, decrying it in a series of tweets last week: “This will further antagonize New York’s Finest, who LOVE New York & vividly remember the horrible BLM chant, ‘Pigs In A Blanket, Fry ‘Em Like Bacon.' Maybe our GREAT Police, who have been neutralized and scorned by a mayor who hates & disrespects them, won’t let this symbol of hate be affixed to New York’s greatest street. Spend this money fighting crime instead!”

The painting was originally scheduled to begin last Thursday, but was delayed until this week.

Tagged

murals

black lives matter

Trump Tower

mayor bill de blasio

Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

MORE arts-entertainment

The hottest way to show you're an authentic New Yorker is… riding a Citi Bike?

Thanks to Dua Lipa, Kim Kardashian, Timothée Chalamet and more, the rideshare program is having a moment.

By

Lindsay Lee Wallace

Published Oct 8, 2026

Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?

If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.

By

James Ramsay

Arts & Entertainment

Is NYC’s hottest attraction the free observation deck at 1 Centre Street?

If you're playing tourist in your own town, this is an in-demand option.

By

James Ramsay

What happens when NYC kids take lessons in rock music? Really good bands.

By

Jayson Greene

Inside a photographer's journey to visit every neighborhood in New York City

By

Sonia Rao

Banned books and Winnie the Pooh: October in NYC libraries

By

Alec Hamilton

Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .